Legislation seeks to increase transportation cybersecurity

Two bills recently reintroduced in the Senate are seeking to bolster cybersecurity protections in vehicles and airplanes in the age of the Internet of Things.

The Security and Privacy in Your Car Act would establish a rating system that informs consumers about how well vehicles protect drivers’ security and privacy beyond minimum standards. The Federal Trade Commission would set the federal standards.

The bill also instructs the Federal Highway Administration to create a cybersecurity tool as well as appoint a cyber coordinator to help transportation authorities protect against, detect, identify, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents.

“This legislation is a pro-active approach which acknowledges that cars are increasingly complex and vulnerable to cyberattacks and malicious hacking,” Cathy Chase, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety president, said. “The consequences to drivers and all road users could be catastrophic.”

The Cybersecurity Standards for Aircraft to Improve Resilience Act requires the disclosure of information relating to cyberattacks on aircraft systems, a study of cybersecurity vulnerability of consumer Wi-Fi on planes and the establishment of standards to identify and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the United States commercial aviation system.

The legislation was reintroduced by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), members of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.