Copyright-Wielding Agencies Stymie Cybersecurity Research

Regulatory agencies, including the Department of Transportation, are trying to use copyright law to crack down on tampering with automobile computers, but so-called “white hat” hackers fear their cybersecurity research will be stymied as well. This summer the hackers took control of a Jeep’s steering, brakes and transmission to demonstrate a vehicle vulnerability. The incident raised concerns about how researchers disclose vulnerabilities to manufacturers and the public.