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Who might face civil liability if autonomous vehicles (AVs) are hacked to steal data or inflict mayhem, injuries, and damage? How will the civil justice and insurance systems adjust to handle such claims? RAND researchers addressed these questions to help those in the automotive, technology, legal, and insurance industries prepare for the shifting roles and responsibilities that the era of AVs may bring. Using four scenarios (a ransomware attack, a hacked vehicle damaging government property, hacks on a connected roadway that cause damage, and theft of information through hacking of AVs), the authors explored the civil legal theories that may come into play when real-world damages result from AVs being hacked. They also examined how those theories may affect various parties, including car manufacturers, component makers, dealers, and both corporate and individual owners. Existing civil legal structures appear flexible enough to adapt to cases involving hacked AVs except in the case of large-scale cyberattacks, but it may be useful to clarify both liability and insurance coverages.

Automated vehicles --- Computer crimes --- Torts. --- Law and legislation.