Policy Studies Competition Policy

Addressing new challenges in automotive cybersecurity

Authors

Caleb Watney
Former Resident Fellow, Technology & Innovation
Cyril Draffin
Project Adviser, MIT Energy Initiative

Executive Summary

As more connected and autonomous vehicles hit the road, new attack vectors emerge for hackers, cybercriminals and even nation states. If left unaddressed, these cyberattacks can result in physical harm to drivers, bystanders and infrastructure. However, excessive regulation can also delay this important innovation. Accordingly, the present study will discuss the various types of cybersecurity risk and e orts taken by industry stakeholders, federal regulators and Congress to try and reduce it, and will then make recommendations for a policy framework going forward. Rather than force new cybersecurity problems through the traditional Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) process, we recommend embracing a more flexible regulatory approach that aligns manufacturer incentives, promotes the development of cybersecurity best practices, proactively tests their capabilities and holds companies accountable to their promises.

Read the full study here.

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