this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2026
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How one woman’s Tesla was remotely controlled – and used to harass her – by an abusive ex-partner (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 3 days ago by FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world
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“You thought you’d get away with this. I am in your car. I am in your maps,” he shouted at her, according to the police records.

Over the coming days, Stacey found that the parental control profile, to which she had no access, could almost entirely control the car, including its speed, climate control, lock and curfew hours, determining when the car could be driven.

Between 6 and 12 November 2025, Pucci remotely alternated the car’s temperature setting between extremely cold and extremely hot.

“The victim has not been able to drive certain speeds and on most recent occasions throughout this period, [the accused] has turned on ‘Valet Mode’ which immediately reduces the speed to 40km per hour causing significant safety issues for the victim on the road”, the police documents stated.

“The victim has not had any control of her vehicle since she noticed the parental control profile added on the 1st November 2025.

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[–] dgriffith@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

And even the claim that slowing the car down to lower speeds is causing safety issues honestly, is a fairly sketchy one..

They had knowledge of the car's position, and could turn on valet mode which limits speed to 40kmhr.

So you're on a busy Australian motorway doing 110km/hr in the middle lane. Your ex sees that and turns on valet mode. That's a quick way to get rear ended by an inattentive driver of a car or truck behind you. At the very least, you'll cause significant chaos as you try and get over to the side of the road.

[–] auzy1@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I don't have a tesla, but It's not likely going to slam the brakes, and valet mode will likely be shown to the driver so they know its enabled (Tesla likely thought of that). Furthermore, it IS a protected function. It's not like its exposed, and not a normal situation where someone abuses it. But, it is a good point

Again though, I have experience with highly abusive people.

Someone who ended up LITERALLY decapitated threatened me, and told me ex "he knows where I live". I had someone swerve at me when driving, and it turned out to be an ex of the girl I was dating. And, I've been given the "don't XXX or else..." talk too by 2 people (one in my own home, and he seemed proud of himself until I managed to get the parties kicked out). When I was swerved at, I thought it was someone on their phone, I just happened to show the woman. I still wonder if one day I found a fence post nailed to the tree outside was one of them

These abusers DO NOT GIVE A SHIT IF YOU'RE DRIVING A TESLA, THEY WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY TO ABUSE PEOPLE, to terrorise them, and try to make their lives miserable!!!! The full extent of this abusers efforts may not actually be known (they were likely only busted for 1 or 2 things).

There already is a lot of protection on these functions. Removing one, will just cause them to use another.

Trust me.. When we removed Find my phone access from these people, we BELIEVE he possibly put a GPS tracker on her car instead, as he messaged still at weird times when she was clearly with me. These guys will always find ways to abuse others, through every possibility.