The article further criticizes the reverse-California Public Records Act lawsuit, which allows companies to sue to keep records private, making it difficult for individuals without significant resources to access public records. The author argues that this lack of transparency and regulation allows tech companies to impose their products on communities, regardless of the potential risks and public concerns. The article concludes by warning that this regulatory capture by tech companies will continue to subject citizens to the effects of these potentially dangerous schemes.
Key takeaways:
- The rollout of self-driving taxis in the San Francisco Bay Area has been problematic, with incidents of robotaxis blocking emergency vehicles and shutting down streets.
- The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has been criticized for granting permits to autonomous vehicle companies despite safety concerns, and for shielding these companies from scrutiny about how these permits were granted.
- When a citizen filed a request under the state’s Public Records Act to release relevant documents about Waymo's permits, the DMV and Waymo took steps to prevent the release of these documents, raising concerns about government transparency.
- The case highlights broader issues with the regulation of the autonomous vehicle industry, with critics arguing that information about the safety of these vehicles should be public.