Connected Car
A rather dystopian if somewhat expected use for connected cars started doing the rounds this week with the discovery of a patent, published last month, titled "Systems and methods to repossess a vehicle." Filed by Ford, the patent describes a system whereby a bank or leasing company could remotely disable specific features—the air conditioning or the radio—or perhaps the car itself in cases where the person leasing the vehicle hasn't kept up with payments. The patent also describes how the lockout could be conditional, allowing owners to continue using the vehicle during the week so disruptions don't affect their livelihood. The system could also let the car operate within a defined geofence. It even makes allowances for autonomous vehicles, which could effectively repossess themselves, driving to an impound lot upon request from a repossession computer.