VW Accused Of Using Software To Fool Emissions Tests: Welcome To The Internet Of Cheating Things from the /is-that-domestic-appliance-lying-to-you?/ dept There have been a number of stories on Techdirt recently about the increasing use of software in cars, and the issues that this raises. For example, back in April, Mike wrote about GM asserting that while you may own the car, the company still owns the software <https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150421/23581430744/gm-says-that-while-yo...> that runs it. You might expect GM to come out against allowing you to modify that software, but very recently we reported that it had received support <https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150909/16165032210/epa-sides-with-gm-tel...> from a surprising quarter: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA had a particular concern that engine control software might be tampered with, causing cars to breach emissions regulations. We've just found out that the EPA was right to worry about this <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/business/volkswagen-is-ordered-to-recall-n...>, but not for the reason it mentioned, as the The New York Times explains: /The Environmental Protection Agency issued [the German car manufacturer Volkswagen] a notice of violation and accused the company of breaking the law by installing software known as a "defeat device" in 4-cylinder Volkswagen and Audi vehicles from model years 2009-15. The device is programmed to detect when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and to only turn on full emissions control systems during that testing. Those controls are turned off during normal driving situations, when the vehicles pollute far more heavily than reported by the manufacturer, the E.P.A. said. / […] Continua qui: https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20150920/03163032307/vw-accused-using-soft... / /