
According to a research, government intervention is required so that self-driving cars may be insured against hostile cyberattacks that might have disastrous results.
Driverless cars will be able to speak with one another thanks to software. It’s being utilized and tested on public transportation all around the globe, and it’ll probably be accessible in private automobiles soon.
While this technology has the potential to enhance transportation safety, it also has the potential to cause accidents, damage to fleets of cars, financial loss, fatalities, and personal harm.
Experts have advocated for the establishment of a national compensation agency in the United Kingdom that would act as a guarantee fund for victims seeking reparation.
Traditional auto insurance would not cover widespread hacking of self-driving vehicles, and such an occurrence may cost the business tens of billions of pounds.
Hackers might use frequent software upgrades to target autos. If autonomous cars suffer catastrophic software flaws or are hacked maliciously, they might represent a significant risk to other road users if they are not properly insured. Existing liability systems are inadequate or inapplicable to cars that run without a driver in command.
Matthew Channon of the University of Exeter and James Marson of Sheffield Hallam University collaborated on the study, which was published in the journal Computer Law & Security Review.
“It’s hard to quantify the danger of autonomous cars being hacked,” Dr. Channon added, “but it’s critical to be prepared.” We propose establishing a Maliciously Compromised Connected Vehicle Agreement, backed by insurance, to reward low-cost hackers and a government-supported guarantee fund to cover high-cost hacks.
“This would relieve manufacturers of a potentially onerous burden, allowing for the deployment and progress of autonomous cars in the UK.”
“If manufacturers are forced to shoulder the cost of compensating mass-hacking victims, substantial interruptions in innovation are anticipated.” Litigation expenses might be incurred by both the manufacturer and the insurer in the event of a dispute.
“In the case of hacking or widespread hacking, public trust necessitates the availability of a mechanism that rewards individuals while also allowing for further research and innovation.”
“The UK aspires to take a leadership role in the development and deployment of connected and autonomous cars,” Dr. Marson added. It was the first country to create a legal framework for the deployment of self-driving cars onto public roads. If it wants to maintain its leadership position in this field, it may do so by establishing an insurance fund for victims of mass-hacked automobiles. This would not only safeguard drivers and pedestrians in the case of a hacking incident, but it would also provide insurers the confidence to cover a new and mostly untested industry.”