The Dutch Data Protection Authority has decided against a fine for Tesla following an investigation into whether Sentry Mode constitutes an infringement on people’s privacy. The authority said it opted against the penalty after Tesla made alterations to the mode.
The authority noted that although Tesla’s Sentry Mode is designed to film vandals and thieves who intend to damage the vehicle, the technology can film anyone who gets close to it and keep that data for a long time, regardless of the people’s intentions.
“Many Teslas parked on the street were often filming everyone who came near the vehicle, and these images were being saved for a very long time,” said Katja Mur, DPA board member, per Reuters. “If every car were to do that, we’d have a situation where no one could go anywhere in public without being watched.”
Read: Tesla’s Sentry Mode Camera Will Melt Snow To Give It A Clear View
Sentry Mode was first introduced in February 2019 after a large number of Tesla thefts were reported in California. In addition to filming potential miscreants and providing the owner with evidence, the vehicle can trigger its security alarm if it detects what it determines to be a threat.
The agency says, though, that Tesla made changes to Sentry Mode following the start of its investigation. These alterations include the car flashing its headlights to indicate to passers-by that it has started filming.
In addition, the car will require the permission of its owner before it starts recording. Those recorded films, meanwhile, are stored within the car, and are not shared with Tesla, the authority said.
As a result of the changes, the owner is now legally responsible for improper filming, not the automaker. It is unclear if these changes will be introduced in other markets.
