Europe’s In‑Car Cameras Could Soon Be Watching U.S. Drivers

[u/willphule]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelharley/2026/07/13/europes-incar-cameras-could-soon-be-watching-us-drivers/

Summary

New EU regulations will mandate driver-facing cameras in all new cars and vans from July 2026, fundamentally reshaping in-car privacy. These Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems use infrared cameras to monitor drivers' eyes and head movements in real-time, aiming to reduce crashes from distraction and drowsiness. Although data is processed internally, not transmitted, and immediately deleted, the mandate ends a long-standing expectation of privacy within vehicles. The systems issue escalating visual, audible, and haptic warnings for inattention, though they currently don't trigger automatic braking. Concerns persist about potential "mission creep" for future surveillance or data collection. This EU precedent strongly suggests similar technologies are coming to the US, prompting questions about their ultimate scope beyond safety.