Tesla's in-car cameras raise safety, privacy concerns

Consumer Reports warned that Tesla Inc’s use of in-car cameras potentially undermines the safety benefits of driver monitoring, which is to alert drivers when they are not paying attention to the road.

The influential US magazine said the usage to record and transmit video footage of passengers to develop self-driving technology also raises privacy concerns.

According to Jake Fisher, senior director of Consumer Reports’ auto test center, if Tesla is capable of determining if the driver isn’t paying attention, it needs to warn the driver at the moment.

Other automakers, such as General Motor and Ford Motor, don't use monitoring systems to record or transmit data or video but have infrared technology to determine drivers’ eye movements or head position to warn them of being distracted.

Tesla's internal cameras have caused Tesla cars to be banned from entering complexes in China, due to security concerns.