California passes car data privacy law to curb domestic violence By Reuters

By Dan Levine and Kristina Cooke

(Reuters) – California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill requiring automakers that sell internet-connected cars to do more to protect survivors of domestic abuse, a move that could expand such safeguards nationwide .

As automakers add more and more sophisticated technology to their cars, cases of tracking and harassment using features like location tracking and remote controls have begun to emerge.

The bill passed the California state legislature with overwhelming support, and Newsom signed it Friday, along with several other measures aimed at protecting survivors of domestic violence. The law could see the new standards implemented beyond California, as automakers tend to avoid making different cars for different states.

Legislative analysts cited reports from Reuters and the New York Times about automakers failing to help women who claimed they were being targeted by their partners. A woman is suing Tesla (NASDAQ: ), alleging the company failed to act after she repeatedly complained that her husband stalked and harassed her with the automaker’s technology despite a restraining order.

Among its provisions, the California bill requires automakers to establish a clear process for drivers to submit a copy of a restraining order or other documents and request that another driver’s remote access be terminated within two business days . It also requires car manufacturers to allow drivers to easily disable location access from inside the vehicle.

No automaker has formally opposed the law. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which counts several automakers as members, said it supports the goal of protecting victims of domestic abuse. The alliance raised some concerns about technical feasibility during the legislative process, and a spokesman said in an email Monday that it discussed ways to potentially address those issues next year.