Online platforms have increasingly been requiring ID verification checks to comply with new laws around the world meant to protect minors from harmful content.
But it appears those types of checks may soon not be limited to the digital world.
Electrek reports that code in Tesla’s latest iOS app update suggests the company is considering using its in-car camera to verify a driver’s identity before they can use the company’s advanced driver-assistance system known as Full Self-Driving (Supervised).
An X account called Tesla_App_iOS, which tracks the car company’s latest apps, first pointed out the hidden strings in the app’s code.
“Strings such as fsdIdentityCheckFailedTitle and showFsdIdentityCheckFailedDialog suggest that the cabin camera may now perform driver identity verification before allowing FSD to activate,” the account posted on X. “If the system cannot confirm the driver matches the authorized profile, it can block FSD and show a failure message in the app.”
Electrek pointed out that this is not a shipped feature yet. It could take weeks or months before it rolls out, if it ever does, and would likely also require a vehicle firmware update.
However, an ID check would not be a huge leap for Tesla. The company already uses the cabin camera mounted above the rearview mirror to monitor drivers. Today, that camera can look for signs of inattentiveness, drowsiness, and the driver’s eye and head position., according to Electrek.
What’s behind this potential move?
This could also be more of a business move. Full Self-Driving is sold as a subscription service, and an identity check could help Tesla make sure only authorized drivers are using it.
The news comes as as governments around the world, including Australia, the U.K., and Brazil, have moved to restrict teens’ access to social media or require age verification to access adult content. Many U.S. states have also passed similar laws to restrict access to porn sites. These laws typically require platforms to work with third-party vendors to verify users’ ages, often through facial recognition or ID submission.
Platforms like Discord already partner with vendors in regions where verification is legally required, with mixed results.
Beyond laws meant to protect minors, Sam Altman’s eyeball-scanning startup World has also pitched ID verification as a way to filter out annoying AI bots from gaming, social media platforms, or even financial transactions like concert ticket sales. Instead of submitting an ID or scanning their face with a phone camera, World’s solution asks people to get their eyes scanned by a somewhat Orwellian soccer-ball-sized device called the Orb in exchange for a unique digital ID code stored on their phone.
Will drivers tolerate ID verification?
Still, these checks could be a particularly hard sell for drivers.
Americans generally support age verification rules online, but they are much less comfortable with how those checks are carried out. One survery from the Pew Research Center found that two out of three Americans were not comfortable sharing identification documents with social media companies.
Additionally, people also do not seem eager to hand over more control of the features of their car. A survey of 1,000 Americans by The Zebra, a website that compares car and home insurance quotes, found that 68 percent were not willing to install a speed limiter that would keep their car from exceeding legal speed limits.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
