Imagine a world where
-No one could run from the cops.
-All cars would stop safely when authorities remotely command them too.
-Where authorities could decide to limit or ban long distance travel with a touch of a button (got to cut down on gas use)
-Where authorities could ration your car use just as easily.
-Where authorities could ban certain people from traveling for any reason.
-Where any one capable of hacking together a signal spoofing device could stop your car at any time and have their way with anyone in it.
-Where the government could track everywhere you went (got to monitor and route traffic, don’t you know).
-Where a government could prevent you from driving to select locations (You have been eating out too much and we decided that is bad for you).
They could implement all of those fears now without automated driving.
Cars are already required to have a black box. And many cars with OnBoard already have “Engine turn off” capability that the cops can initiate. They don’t need automated driving to ration your car use. Controlling your purchase at the pump works well, remember the Nixon years. They even rationed fuel back in 1942. Combine a GPS with an engine turn off device and you’ve got location control.
You wouldn’t forbid guns for fear government would misuse them. So don’t forbid a great idea like automated driving out of the same fear, when government can already do everything you’re worried about if they wanted and our elected reps would let them.