We recently reported on Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, taking to Twitter to hit back at claims that the Full Self-Drive (FSD) system did not stop for child-sized mannequins in some tests. Now, the EV maker has issued an official cease-and-desist letter to have the video removed.
Dan O’Dowd, CEO of Green Hills Software, started a campaign last year against Tesla’s FSD system. O’Dowd recently released a video stating that they tested a Tesla in FSD mode to see if it would avoid child-sized mannequins. The video shows the car smashing into the mannequins, however, it is worth noting that there is nothing to prove that the FSD system is in use and these tests were not regulated.
O’Dowd has also previously ran for US Senate and made it clear that if he was successful, he would get Tesla’s FSD software banned.
Our new safety test of @ElonMusk’s Full Self-Driving Teslas discovered that they will indiscriminately mow down children.
Today @RealDawnProject launches a nationwide TV ad campaign demanding @NHTSAgov ban Full Self-Driving until @ElonMusk proves it won’t mow down children. pic.twitter.com/i5Jtb38GjH
— Dan O'Dowd (@RealDanODowd) August 9, 2022
So, Tesla have sent the letter which has been received by O’Dowd, and he is apparently refusing to take the video down. YouTube has taken down at least one of the ads as there is now a safety concern because some FSD Beta users are now using children to prove O’Dowd wrong.
According to The Washing Post, Dinna Eskin, Tesla’s deputy general counsel, explained following the letter being issued:
“The purported tests misuse and misrepresent the capabilities of Tesla’s technology, and disregard widely recognized testing performed by independent agencies as well as the experiences shared by our customers.”
On the other hand, O’Dowd has said in an interview:
“This letter is so pathetic in terms of whining: Mr. Free Speech Absolutist, just a crybaby hiding behind his lawyers.”
O’Dowd, also posted his thoughts to his Twitter followers, saying:
Master Scammer Musk threatens to sue me over a tv ad.
Turns out Mr Free Speech Absolutist is just another crybaby hiding behind his lawyer's skirt.
Guess I hurt his wittle feewings.
Now the coward @elonmusk lashes out, sending pawns to fight his fight.https://t.co/Sbawi2rmDI pic.twitter.com/VZ7cMQR4AO
— Dan O'Dowd (@RealDanODowd) August 25, 2022
Twitter has, of course, been all over this and we were not sure if Musk would mention anything now that solicitors are involved. However, Musk clearly couldn’t help himself when he responded to the below post for @WholeMarsBlog.
🦇 💩 crazy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 25, 2022
FSD Beta 10.69 was recently released and there are roughly 100,000 Tesla users testing the software at the moment.
As the letter has only just been issued, we are sure there will be more news to come on this so we will keep you updated.
