Senate Says Privacy, Security Are Key Hurdles For Self-Driving Cars

Image courtesy Northeastern University

The Senate of Canada says privacy and security concerns are the major hurdles that regulators and automakers will have to overcome before automated vehicle technology becomes part of Canadians' daily lives.

In a report issued today, entitled Driving Change, the Senate's Standing Committee on Transport and Communications makes 16 recommendations regarding the development, regulation and deployment of self-driving cars. The report comes after months of testimony from industry experts, debate in the Senate chamber and fact-finding trips that took senators to Waterloo University, Blackberry/QNX in Ottawa and the University of Alberta.

The report suggests that federal government departments including Transport Canada and Public Safety Canada will have to work closely with the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) to come up with "guidance for the transportation sector based on best practices and recognized cybersecurity principles."

The Senate wants this advice to cover original equipment, replacement parts and software updates relating to the vehicle's self-driving hardware; it also recommends the feds empower the Privacy Commissioner to ensure automakers and their suppliers comply with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

Another recommendation suggests the government monitor the progress of automated vehicle development and include consumers in the development of a privacy-centric framework on which to base legislation regulating automated and connected cars.

While the Senate was tasked with producing its report by the House of Commons, decisions on the regulation of automated and connected vehicles ultimately lie with the House of Commons.