Tesla safety cameras capture neighbourhood movements

Tesla's Sentry Mode security system, which uses cameras to monitor and record the surroundings of parked vehicles, was found to be continuously filming people near parked vehicles and storing footage for extended periods. 

Tesla made changes to its vehicle security cameras after an Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens (Dutch Data Protection Authority) investigation into whether the car maker had violated the privacy of people coming close to its cars. 

Tesla's Sentry Mode uses four cameras continuously filming everything around a parked vehicle to protect it against theft and vandalism, with images saved for one hour in the car.

Since the investigation began, the Authority said Tesla had made changes to Sentry Mode, include making the cars' headlights flash to indicate to passers-by that filming has begun, and requiring approval from the car's owners in order to begin filming. 

Accordingly, the car's owners would be legally responsible for improper filming, the Authority said.