Tesla is pressing European regulators to treat data from its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system as a trade secret, a move that could limit public oversight of the technology's safety and performance. The request, made in ongoing discussions with authorities, has drawn scrutiny from consumer advocates and transparency watchdogs.
The secrecy push
The company argues that detailed FSD data — including disengagement reports, system logs, and performance metrics — constitutes proprietary information that should not be made public. Tesla has reportedly asked regulators to keep such data confidential, citing competitive concerns and the need to protect intellectual property.
This stance puts Tesla at odds with the European approach to automotive safety, where regulators typically require transparency to ensure public trust. In the U.S., Tesla already publishes limited data voluntarily, but the company has resisted broader disclosure.
If regulators agree to Tesla's demands, it could set a precedent for how autonomous driving data is handled across the industry. Critics argue that without independent access to FSD performance data, it's impossible to verify the system's safety claims. The European Commission has not yet made a final decision, but the request is being reviewed as part of broader regulatory discussions on AI and automated driving.
The European Commission is expected to issue guidance on data transparency for automated driving systems later this year. Tesla's push for secrecy will likely be a key point of contention in those deliberations.
