I find it weird that nobody seems to talk about the national security implications of self-driving cars. Imagine the Russian cyber attack we just experienced happening on millions of self-driving cars...
https://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-hig...
There may be some terrorism risk, but any truly terrifying scenario requires a multitude of incredibly stupid design choices. Like constant internet connection, remote updates, no manual override, and a single widespread system. Hacking stoplights is roughly as scary.
edit particularly as an attack on self driving cars would be an intentional targeting of civilians, and would likely be considered similar to using chemical weapons.
> particularly as an attack on self driving cars would be an intentional targeting of civilians
Except it obviously isn't an attack on civilians.
It's not obvious. There are two methods they could attack. Force cars to make drive dangerously, which is a clear attack on civilians. Or halt all cars, which wouldn't be but would require incredibly dumb design choices in the cars. I assumed the first, and I guess you picture the second.
If a Russian terrorist cell (state sponsored or not) did this to American vehicles on the road, Putin will be on the phone begging to not be blown up. The leaders of a dozen countries will be on the phone begging us not to blow him up.
It's like America's power supply. Notoriously easy to destroy, but if you do destroy it, hell will rain down upon you.
Because it turns out the devices that make the peace don't operate like the devices that operate in the peace. So you can't break them that easily.