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TECHNOLOGY A23
Government will consider Google computer to be car’s driver
TOM KRISHER
JUSTIN PRITCHARD
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Comput-
ers that control cars of the
future can be considered
drivers just like humans,
the federal government’s
highway safety agency
has found.
The redefinition of “driver”
by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administra-
tion is an important break
for Google, taking it a step
closer to its goal of self-driv-
ing cars without steering
wheels, pedals or human
drivers.
But the company still has a
long journey ahead before
its cars get on the road in
great numbers.
While the safety agency
agreed with Google’s
“driver” reinterpretation
in a recent letter, it didn’t
allow other concessions
and said numerous fed-
eral rules would have to
be changed to permit the
cars.
“NHTSA will interpret
‘driver’ in the context of
Google’s described motor
vehicle design as referring
to the SDS (self-driving sys-
tem) and not to any of the
vehicle occupants,” Paul
Hemmersbaugh, NHTSA’s
chief counsel, wrote in the
letter.
But the agency rejected
many of Google’s claims
that its cars met federal
auto safety standards, in-
cluding a requirement for
foot and hand brakes.
Google said the require-
ment wasn’t necessary be-
cause the electronic driver
can stop the cars.
Yet the government said
regulations are clear and
would have to be changed
to allow that.
“In a number of instanc-
es, it may be possible for
Google to show that cer-
tain (federal) standards
are unnecessary for a par-
ticular vehicle design,”
Hemmersbaugh wrote. “To
date, however, Google
has not made such a
showing.”
Google, a subsidiary of Al-
phabet Inc., has suggested
the cars could be ready for
the public in a few years.
After several years of cau-
tion, last month federal reg-
ulators said they wanted to
Thursday 11 February 2016

Seven states and Washing-
ton, D.C., allow autono-
mous vehicle testing on
their roads, according to
the National Conference
of State Legislatures.
The federal government
isn’t predicting when au-
tonomous cars will be on
public roads in big num-
bers, but some automakers
have said they could be in
use in limited areas by 2020
— and Google has been
more bullish than that.
Foxx said the government
believes self-driving vehi-
cles could eventually cut
traffic deaths, decrease
highway congestion and
improve the environment.
He encouraged automak-
ers to come to the gov-
ernment with ideas about
how to speed their devel-
This May 13, 2015, file photo, shows Google’s new self-driving car during a demonstration at the opment.
Google campus in Mountain View, Calif. Safety advocates worry
Associated Press the agency is getting too
help speed thetechnolo- used to make sure they are That policy could eventu- cozy with the auto industry
gy’s widespread adoption safe. ally lead to consistent na- when it comes totechnol-
if it proves to be safe. The agency also will de- tional regulations for au- ogy regulations.
In letters over the past velop a model policy for tonomous cars. Right now, Google spokesman John-
ny Luu said the company
states to follow if they de- individual states like Cali-
three months, Google had no comment beyond
asked NHTSA to interpret cide to allow autonomous fornia, Florida and Nevada that it was reviewing the
safety standards in ways agency’s response.q
cars on public roads. have their own regulations.
that would ease the path
Agencies contend Facebook isfor self-driving car proto-
types to get into public
hands. breaching French privacy laws
In order to put their cars on
the road, automakers must
self-certify that they meet PHILIPPE SOTTO used for targeted adver- said. Without compliance
federal safety standards Associated Press tising. By failing to provide the matter may be referred
and get NHTSA’s approval. PARIS (AP) — Two agen- tools to prevent such use, to a special committee
While Hemmersbaugh’s cies contend Facebook Facebook violates users’ that decides on sanctions.
letter agrees about the is breaching privacy laws “fundamental rights and in- CNIL’s regulations call for
computer as the driver, in France by tracking and terests,” including respect sanctions of up to 150,000
it says the company will using the personal data of for privacy, CNIL said. euros ($170,000) in such
have to apply for exemp- more than 30 million users, The California-based com- cases.
tions to the standards, and as well as non-users who pany also collects data of The other agency, under
the agency will have to go are browsing the Internet. non-Facebook users’ Inter- the Economy Ministry, ac-
through the cumbersome The government-linked net browsing without their cused Facebook on Tues-
federal rule-making pro- General Direction for Com- knowledge when they visit day of removing without
cess in some cases to get petition, Consumer Af- a public Facebook page consultation content or
the cars approved. fairs and Fraud Control on and uses the information information posted by us-
In January at the Detroit Tuesday issued a formal it collects for targeted ad- ers and unilaterally chang-
auto show, notice giving Facebook vertising, according to the ing its terms and conditions
Transportation Secretary two months to comply statement. without informing users in
Anthony Foxx said the gov- with French data protec- The agency asked Face- advance.
ernment wants to get au- tion laws or risk sanctions. book to “fairly collect data” If changes relating to those
tonomous cars on the road The independent privacy of non-account holders complaints are not made
quickly and will fast-track watchdog CNIL earlier set and provide account hold- within two months, the so-
policies and possibly even a three-month limit ahead ers with the means to ob- cial network could risk a
waive regulations to do it. of eventual fines. ject to compilation of data fine of up to 15,000 euros
Foxx said NHTSA, CNIL said that Facebook for advertising purposes, ($17,000) and a civil trial
which is part of his depart- collects data about ac- the statement said. over allegedly illegal claus-
ment, will spend the next count holders’ “political “This notice is not a sanc- es, according to the Con-
six months developing or religious opinions” and tion and the procedure sumer Affairs and Fraud
guidance for automakers “sexual orientation,” with- will be publicly closed” if Control agency.
on what’s expected of self- out informing them and Facebook complies with There was no immediate re-
driving prototype cars and compiles information on the French data protec- sponse to email queries to
what sort of tests should be account holders to be tion act, CNIL’s statement Facebook for comment.q