Autonomous Vehicles Law & Policy Research

Quick Snapshot

• Role: Legal and policy researcher
• Team: Independent study with faculty mentorship
• Customers: Policymakers, manufacturers, technologists, and consumers navigating autonomous vehicle adoption

Mandate / Opportunity / Problem Scope

As autonomous and connected vehicles become mainstream, owners will inevitably attempt to jailbreak their software to unlock unauthorized functionality. This project examined the copyright liability, safety implications, and regulatory gaps created by that behavior.

What I Led / Delivered / Highlights

• Traced the legal lineage of software jailbreaking from smartphones to vehicles, identifying precedent relevant to ACVs.
• Modeled potential jailbreak scenarios — from benign customization to dangerous misuse — and analyzed the ramifications for each stakeholder group.
• Produced recommendations for consumers, technologists, manufacturers, and regulators to mitigate risk while enabling innovation.
• Delivered an accompanying presentation summarizing findings and policy pathways for broader audiences.

Impact / Lasting Value / Takeaway

The research provided an early warning framework for addressing unauthorized modifications to autonomous vehicles, helping stakeholders prepare governance strategies before widespread deployment.