An ex-Tesla worker divulged accident reports and internal communications, exposing Autopilot software issues. The information, including Elon Musk’s team’s personal details, was published by German newspaper Handelsblatt.
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Tesla Ex-Employee Alleges Harassment and Termination for raising safety concerns
Utilizing data, Handelsblatt and Wired magazine highlighted challenges in Tesla’s Cybertruck production, which lags nearly three years behind its scheduled delivery by the end of November. Former Tesla employee Lukasz Krupski, previously based in the Norwegian unit, raised alarms about serious safety concerns at his workplace near Oslo. He claimed harassment, threats, and eventual termination after bringing up these safety issues. Krupski, a Polish resident, was part of a team preparing Teslas for customer delivery.
Yet, driven by discontentment with the company, Krupski took a step last year, sharing substantial data from Tesla’s computer system with Handelsblatt. He alleged accessing sensitive information by using search terms on an internal company website, raising questions about Tesla’s capacity to protect employee privacy and proprietary data.
The Dutch Data Protection Authority, situated where Tesla’s European headquarters resides, is actively investigating if this breach violates privacy laws. A spokesperson confirmed the ongoing inquiry but offered no further details. Simultaneously, the US safety agency is examining whether autopilot played a role in several accidents, some fatal. While not commenting on discussions with Krupski, Tesla maintains its stance that autopilot enhances vehicle safety, recently winning a legal battle against claims linking the software to a fatal California crash.
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Tesla Accuses Whistleblower of Inappropriate Collection of Company Data
In correspondence to Krupski’s legal representative, a Norwegian law firm representing Tesla asserted that the company disputes claims of retaliation against him. The letter accused Krupski of inappropriately obtaining company information and cautioned about potential damages. Additionally, Tesla obtained an injunction from a Norwegian court, instructing Krupski not to disclose further company information. The court authorized the seizure of his laptop, which was subsequently surrendered to Tesla. The company informed its employees about the data breach on August 18, around three months after learning that Handelsblatt had the information.
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What We Think?
In this recent incident, it’s disheartening to see the alleged harassment and threats he faced. We feel that it’s clear that the data leak has led to revealing of potential gaps in Tesla’s data protection measures. The denial of retaliation, legal battles, and the subsequent data breach notification raise questions about workplace safety and data security practices at Tesla. This case underscores the need for transparent investigations and robust safeguards to protect both employees and proprietary information.
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