EU requires all new cars to have cameras facing the driver’s face to monitor their behavior
The US is next.
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- From July 7th, new EU cars must include driver-facing cameras to detect distraction and issue alerts.
- The rule is part of the EU’s safety regulation aimed at reducing crashes caused by distraction or fatigue.
- Authorities say data stays in the car, but critics warn manufacturers could misuse or sell driver information.
- The debate highlights a wider tension between road safety technology and concerns over privacy and surveillance.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
The new rule is meant to prevent road accidents, but critics say it’s a tool of mass surveillance.
Starting July 7th, every new car sold in the EU is required to have a camera aimed at the driver’s face. The same regulation will be introduced in the US next year.
The camera is meant to monitor a driver to ensure they’re not distracted while driving. When the camera detects that the driver’s focus is not on the road for too long, it will issue an alert.
The new rule is part of the EU’s General Safety Regulation, which requires new cars to have Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems. This way, the EU aims to prevent accidents caused by driver distraction or fatigue.
While these systems were created to increase road safety, they have already raised concerns about drivers' privacy.
Invasion of privacy?
The authorities say the cameras won’t collect biometric data and that the information will be stored in the car, but they don’t specify what will happen if these rules are broken, noted Risky Business.
Users and experts are already raising alarm bells over data privacy, fearing that it could be collected and sold.
These concerns are especially valid given instances in which car manufacturers have violated consumer privacy.
“A privacy nightmare that is completely nonsensical and will have no impact on safety,” said one Redditor about the new regulations.
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“First it's your car, then your living room. Big Brother is watching you,” added another netizen.
“Good news! A new market just opened for aftermarket removals of driver cameras,” wrote another Reddit user, debating that the regulation may encourage drivers to remove the camera and reinstall it before a car checkup, thus avoiding being monitored.
The EU today introduced the new requirement for all new cars registered in Europe to have installed cameras filming the driver’s face.
by u/xtheresia in Anarcho_Capitalism
Are ADDW systems capable of solving issues on the road?
“Smarter cars mean safer roads,” the European Commission posted on Bluesky, where it shared the newly required features for cars and vans in the EU.
Besides the driver distraction warning system, these include an advanced emergency brake, improved forward visibility, tire wear testing, and expanded safety glass areas to protect pedestrians during accidents.
Smarter cars mean safer roads. From 7 July 2026, all new passenger cars and vans across the EU will require these built-in features ↓
undefined European Commission (@ec.europa.eu) 5 July 2026 at 10:22
The post on the social media site sparked a debate among users, who weren’t convinced that these car-built-in features would actually help and instead raised a completely different issue.
“What about the elephant in the room of cars still increasing in size and weight, being more dangerous for other people participating in traffic,” one user pondered.
“And have you seen the size and weight of those e-cargo bikes? Size inflation is happening everywhere,” another user noted.
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The discussion prompted one netizen to share how the automatic braking system actually put them in danger.
“On several occasions, it suddenly broke while I was starting an overtaking, just 'cause it thought I was too close to the car in front of me. So, while I try to overtake as quickly as possible, it brakes, putting me in danger,” shared the user.
“Mandated mass surveillance? No thanks,” concluded another user.
What about the US?
By 2027, new cars sold in the US will also be required to include a built-in system that will monitor drivers.
According to the federal safety initiative, the initiative will be introduced to reduce impaired driving. Car manufacturers are already shifting to technology that monitors drivers' behavior using cameras and sensors, according to Yahoo Autos.
These systems would check the driver's head position, eye movements, focus levels, and any signs of fatigue or distraction.
What happens after the vehicle assesses the driver depends on what restrictions the car manufacturer has implemented.
It could include sound systems that simply alert the driver, or there could be limitations that prevent the driver from even starting the car.
FAQ about driver monitoring
What is the EU’s new General Safety Regulation?
EU law requires new vehicles to have mandatory safety tech, such as emergency braking, lane assist, and distraction warnings, to reduce road deaths.
What are Advanced Driver Distraction Warning (ADDW) systems?
Mandatory systems that detect driver distraction and issue a warning to refocus attention on the road.
How does the EU's ADDW monitor drivers?
A camera tracks the driver's eyes, gaze, and head position. If attention is diverted for too long (e.g., while looking at a dashboard or a smartphone), it triggers an alert.
FAQ by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
