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And they are saying that it already is, naming a few examples of things that really need to be illegal to reprogram. GPS et al would be non-functional if every

• codedokode 10mo ago
  How does reprogramming GPS receiver turn it into a jammer? To make a jammer, you better buy a cheap SDR from Aliexpress.
• Fabricio20 10mo ago
  How does being able to reprogram a GPS device make it into a jammer any more efficiently than grabbing three pieces of coal and running a few amps thru it? Or hell just buying an SDR on aliexpress! The only reason it's "illegal" is because they were thinking people would use it to make missiles easily - but that's already the case even with non-reprogrammable gps. And in big 2025 you can also just use drones with bombs attached to it.
• fluoridation 10mo ago
  I don't really understand your point in restating this. Someone who says "X should be true" isn't going to be convinced that X should be false by reminding them that X is in fact false. >GPS et al would be non-functional if everybody could make a jammer. Then it should be illegal to make a GPS jammer. Making it illegal to reprogram a GPS receiver in any way is unnecessarily broad.
  • everforward 10mo ago
    GPS is a bad example, but there are things that pose a physical threat to others that we maybe shouldn't tinker with. Like I think some modern cars are fly-by-wire, so you could stick the accelerator open and disable the breaks and steering. If it's also push-to-start, that's probably not physically connected to the ignition either. It would be difficult to catch in an inspection if you could reprogram the OEM parts. I don't care about closed-course cars, though. Do whatever you want to your track/drag car, but cars on the highway should probably have stock software for functional parts.
    • DaSHacka 10mo ago
      Why does it matter if it's running stock software or not so long as it's still operational? Oftentimes even the stock software can cause those problems you've mentioned, and has happened quite a few times in the past
    • AnthonyMouse 10mo ago
      > Like I think some modern cars are fly-by-wire, so you could stick the accelerator open and disable the breaks and steering. Essentially all passenger cars use physical/hydraulic connections for the steering and brakes. The computer can activate the brakes, not disable the pedal from working. But also, this argument is absurd. What if someone could reprogram your computer to make the brakes not work? They could also cut the brake lines or run you off the road. Which is why attempted murder is illegal and you don't need "programming a computer" to be illegal. > It would be difficult to catch in an inspection if you could reprogram the OEM parts. People already do this. There are also schmucks who make things like straight-through "catalytic converters" that internally bypass the catalyst for the main exhaust flow to improve performance while putting a mini-catalyst right in front of the oxygen sensor to fool the computer. You'd basically have to remove the catalytic converter and inspect the inside of it to catch them, or test the car on a dyno using an external exhaust probe, which are the same things that would catch someone reprogramming the computer. In practice those people often don't get caught and the better solution is to go after the people selling those things rather than the people buying them anyway.
    • saurik 10mo ago
      > It would be difficult to catch in an inspection if you could reprogram the OEM parts. This would be easy to inspect if the device were open.
      • codedokode 10mo ago
        The simplest solution to prevent tampering is a seal.
    • fluoridation 10mo ago
      >you could stick the accelerator open and disable the breaks and steering This is silly. Prohibiting modifying car firmware because it would enable some methods of sabotage is like prohibiting making sledgehammers because someone might use one to bludgeon someone, when murder is already a crime to begin with.
• fennecbutt 10mo ago
  In the same way that anybody can use a gun for violence, right? They're becoming self aware!
  • codedokode 10mo ago
    To be fair, millions people walking with guns around are much scarier than a guy which can jam GPS with a receiver. We have GPS jammed on a regular basis (including around airports when planes land/take off) and nothing bad happens.
• viraptor 10mo ago
  Everyone can make a jammer already. (It's illegal to use one, but you're able to) Hardware receivers cannot be reprogrammed as transmitters. We already have well known areas with constant GPS manipulation. https://www.flightradar24.com/data/gps-jamming https://www.flightradar24.com/data/gps-jamming