Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y have selfie cameras built into the cabin, located above the rearview mirror mount.
Back in April, Tesla hackers were able to share the view of just what this camera can see and its angle of view. Why is this selfie camera there? Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter at the time, the feature would help monitor the interior cabin of your car when the company’s Robotaxi service is up and running. If someone damages your car, it’ll be recorded on camera.
Correct
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 12, 2020
Now, Tesla hacker known as @greentheonly has shared a list of what this Tesla Model 3 and Model Y selfie camera is looking for. On late Saturday evening, the user tweeted, “In case you were wondering what does the selfie camera in model 3 currently try to detect,” along with the following list:
In case you were wondering what does the selfie camera in model 3 currently try to detect:
BLINDED
DARK
EYES_CLOSED
EYES_DOWN
EYES_NOMINAL
EYES_UP
HEAD_DOWN
HEAD_TRUNC
LOOKING_LEFT
LOOKING_RIGHT
PHONE_USE
SUNGLASSES_EYES_LIKELY_NOMINAL
SUNGLASSES_LIKELY_EYES_DOWN— green (@greentheonly) October 4, 2020
Clearly, the camera is trying to see what the driver is doing, from their eyes being opened or closed, which direction they are looking, whether they are on the phone or even if they are wearings sunglasses or not.
According to @greentheonly, this list of commands popped into firmwares “just over two weeks ago.”
“[Tesla] are clearly developing a (different) driving monitoring system. See how recent EuroNCAP pegged them down some for not having it?”, added @greentheonly.
While it’s exciting to think what Tesla has in store for some sort of monitoring system, it appears to be still a ways away from becoming a reality. In the meantime, some Tesla owners wary of the camera have since purchased webcam covers off Amazon to protect their privacy, in the event the camera is ever recording.
