“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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[–] 60 points 1 month ago (9 children)

The fact these controls exist at all is a fucking nightmare. How are these vehicles legally sold? This technology should illegal I'm vehicles.

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  • [–] 22 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    To paraphrase Strong Bad: "Your [car] has too much computer in it...and not enough typewriter."

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  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago* (2 children)

    I love seeing strong bad references in the wild!

    Virus equals very yes? Computer over?! What does that mean?!

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  • [–] 35 points 1 month ago

    Oh look another reason for my "reasons to not buy modern cars" pile.

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  • [–] 31 points 1 month ago (7 children)

    This is why we reset our vehicles when an employee leaves. Probably should do the same when you have a messy breakup.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    With Tesla you can't really do that, whatever account is registered as the owner (she transferred the ownership from her account to his) is the only one that can add and remove others to access the car via the app. The only other way is to show Tesla you are the actual owner of the car and then they can switch it back to your account. Fuckong nightmare.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    There is another way: don't own a Tesla.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    Having owned a Tesla for 3 years, I can't find the words to express how fucking right your statement is. Those things are the definition of the phrase "expensive, underwhelming and frustrating garbage".

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    There's only so much bullshit I'd put up with for that admittedly crazy acceleration (drove a friend's once and they can go). From the privacy angle alone, I see them as basically ring doorbell cameras on wheels (though wonder if I should instead consider them like flock cameras on wheels). For safety, they can require having the presence of mind (and physical capability, which could be impossible if an accident occurred) to remove a door panel to access the mechanical door latch while the car is on fire. Build quality sucks. They are pretty much a poster child for overpromise underdeliver.

    And that's not even touching who benefits from Tesla doing well.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago

    I see them as basically ring doorbell cameras on wheels (though wonder if I should instead consider them like flock cameras on wheels).

    Considering flock and ring worked together before and sell the same product, just to different customers, I wouldn't bother differentiating.

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  • [–] 23 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 child)

    What the hell? Why hasn't she changed her password yet?

    Aha, the article explains:

    After having trouble navigating the technology, Stacey was offered help from Pucci, who said he would need the car to be registered in his name so “he could take control of the Tesla app to ‘assist her’”.

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  • [–] 17 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    Enrico Pucci was able to control his former partner’s electric car remotely, controlling its speed, temperature settings and lock

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  • [–] -3 points 1 month ago* (3 children)

    Though owner controls they were given full access to. Strange how that was left out.

    Maybe don’t give root access to your device out to your partner of a few months.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    Knowing how gaslighting and Stockholm syndrome looks like, the owner/victims may think their partner is made in heaven.

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  • [–] 54 points 1 month ago (11 children)

    Musk should have to write a check for $1 billion to her.

    I'm not kidding. That's how we have to punish billionaires. Every infraction is a minimum $1 billion payout to each person.

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  • [–] [S] 23 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    I'm with you. I wish we lived in a world where these rich bastards were being held meaningfully accountable.

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  • [+] -7 points 1 month ago (4 children)

    Why? These are known useful features of the car. The guy changing the settings remotely is the criminal and she was too ignorant to disable his account. It's like if you give your house keys to your stalker and find them illegally in your house then trying to sue the lock maker.

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  • [–] 14 points 1 month ago* (3 children)

    Please explain how remotely limiting the speed of a vehicle is useful and not dangerous.

    The only “parental controls” you need are the keys.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    that feature is called "Valet mode". It's specifically to stop valets going joy-riding on your $150k car that was faster than most Ferraris back when that feature got added.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Sweet. So why does it need to be done remotely? Why not a passcode?

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago

    It offers both. But if you do it remotely from the owner's phone, it doesn't require the passcode. Presumably in case you forget the passcode you set in the car.

    And once you build the functionality to turn it off remotely, you may as well allow turning it on as well. For example, if you realize you forgot to enable valet mode shortly after handing over the keys, you can still do so.

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  • [–] 14 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

    Reminded me of a claimed incident where a reporter or whistle blower was killed by their car. thought it was weird that it wasn't bigger news.

    edit: tried searching for it. Not Hastings or that ABC conspiracy. Though perhaps something was up with Hastings but that's a whole other mess.

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  • [–] 9 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Not sure if this is the one you're thinking of but I remember folks being suspicious of it. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/23/us/ice-shooting-texas-witness-dead.html

    Looks like it's paywalled though so I couldn't skim through to even see if it was Tesla related.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 month ago

    It at least before 2020. The details I vaguely remember was the vehicle hit something at top open throttle and the passenger was killed either on impact or during the subsequent fire.

    Find it a bit disconcerting how many suggestive accidents there have been matching that.

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  • [–] 12 points 1 month ago*

    I'm sure there's some online fora and FB groups for absolute psychofuck narcissists who will go to great lengths to terrorize their supposed partners and children, and exchange awful ideas on how to keep them on a leash, and this includes the above takeover of a fucking Tesla.

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  • [–] [S] 33 points 1 month ago* (6 children)

    Made a video about this story for my channel this week, but it's just a good reminder to be extra-cautious with anything that can be operated remotely: Revoke unauthorized profiles, change passwords often, check for hidden profiles, etc. If you don't know how to do that yourself, go to the dealership and get help.

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  • [–] 24 points 1 month ago (3 children)
  • [–] [S] 11 points 1 month ago (2 children)
  • [–] 15 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Totally. Thankfully his girls are normal and don't seem to have a lot of baggage from it. One of them is a very successful beautician that recently did the hair and makeup for one of the stars of the 50th SNL celebration. She looks like she could be a movie star herself.

    Rob was a master manipulator yet somehow I never fell for it and it drove a wedge between us to the point that I wouldn't be invited to family events. Funny how standing up to a bully will make the bully run away.

    One time he made another one of my nieces cry by being cruel with words and calling her ugly (she was 13 and that is not fucking cool to do to a 13 year old) and it made me so upset. I yelled at him and confronted him. Anyway a few moments into the argument he acts like he wants to fight me and I step up to him and he goes and runs and hides behind my sister, knowing that I would not hurt her to get to him. Such a coward. The world is a better place without him.

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  • [–] [S] 10 points 1 month ago

    One time he made another one of my nieces cry by being cruel with words and calling her ugly (she was 13 and that is not fucking cool to do to a 13 year old) and it made me so upset. I yelled at him and confronted him.

    Good on you for sticking up for the kid. That is an awful way to treat a young girl, no doubt, and standing up to bullies is important.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    Knowing nothing of Tesla would she have been able to gain control back AFTER the lock was put on?

    For example you can reboot an Android to safe mode and wipe back to factory.

    I'm not sure if that's possible on tech heavily cloud controlled through apps and online accounts.

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  • [–] 25 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    Add it to the ever-growing pile of why fly-by-wire for cars is and always will be a bad idea.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

    I think the problem here is more that the car has a network connection. I'm not sure how you could feasibly have an EV that isn't fly-by-wire (meaning controlled by a computer or microcontroller).

    Even something like a BMS is, in and of itself a computer.

    The only wireless connectivity a car should have is Bluetooth to connect your phone to the head unit that is disconnected from the rest of the car.

    It's be nice to see some kind of modern EV run fully open source software.

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  • [–] -5 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    I mean I generally agree but that's not what's happening here. They can limit the speed and power but they can't like force the accelerator or slam on the brakes or something.

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  • [–] 32 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    Randomly limiting someone to 40km/h on a highway or fucking with the extremes of heat and cold are dangerous things to do to a driver.

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  • [–] [S] 9 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

    Randomly limiting someone to 40km/h on a highway

    1000000%

    I once had a flat on a major freeway, and had to switch out the donut tire, and then maintain 40 mph for 100 miles to get home. (So the donut tire wouldn't go flat as well.) I had my hazards on, but basically every driver ignored it, including semi-truck drivers, and whipped around me at 80+ mph. It is terrifying, dangerous, and this sick fuck was 100% trying to plausibly murder her by doing this, no doubt.

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  • [–] 18 points 1 month ago (8 children)

    This is why I like my old Jeep. It's manual. It's got great "security". I always say it's got an alarm system; because any small time thief would yell out of frustration. When I travel, I pull out the clutch pedal and take fuel relay out and unplug the battery and leave it in 4lo lol. Oh yeah and you have to unplug the clutch pedal fuse for it to start. If the battery has been unplugged, then you got remap the ECU which takes like a half hour of my shovel wedged against the gas pedal unless you want the engine stalling out every time you take your foot of the pedal. It's also one of the rare colors, as in only 2000 made with dicks, I'm very childish, carved in hard to see spots to make it a nightmare for part thieves. So if you steal it, pretty much with a tow truck, it's like putting a bullseye on yourself.

    The point was, there's no controlling that. I don't like all the new tech put into cars.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (5 children)
  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    Its like j-lo, but for jeeps.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    And here I was mad that I could only find Android Auto head units when the radio in my 15 year old car died.

    This sounds like a nightmare.

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  • [–] 16 points 1 month ago (16 children)

    Remember kids, if you give full control of you car to someone else you will have a bad time.

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  • [–] 12 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    Remember, Tesla added this feature after widespread demand for parental controls on use following an incident in which a teenager killed themselves by driving too fast. People asked why they couldn’t override the car with parental controls if that feature was a technical possibility and there was even talk of using legal force to make them do it if they didn’t voluntarily comply.

    Tesla requiring proof that the limited account belonged to a minor was not going to be permitted. Parents did this to us.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    I doubt it was parents. It was probably the same people that run all the parents rights groups: fundamental Christian extremists.

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  • [–] 8 points 1 month ago (12 children)

    this is how so many marriages end with abusers.

    but ok...i guess we just blame the victims for abusers who own the ultimate choice over their own behaviour

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  • [–] -3 points 1 month ago (11 children)

    You're right, it's better to pretend abusers don't exists and don't take any precautions. Leave our door open, use single password for everything and carry wallets in our back pockets. When something bad happens we'll just blame the criminal and everything will be fixed.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago* (10 children)

    wow ok i get it. you hate victims. you know who else hates their victims? abusers. you talk like an abuser there with how much you hate victims.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (9 children)

    I've seen dozens of cautionary tales written by abused women, telling others how abusers operate, what to look out for and what to do to stay safe. I guess all those women hate victims too.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    Remember kids, if you give full control of you car to someone else you will have a bad time.

    This isn't advice, it's victim blaming. It's Pucci's fault that he took control of her car and terrorized her.

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  • [–] 1 point 1 month ago (4 children)

    Yes, I know, woman would have to say it to for it o be an advice. If a man says it it's victim blaming.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (3 children)

    It has nothing to do with gender and everything with you literally blaming the victim instead of the abuser.

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  • [–] -2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    You always do the same thing and it's getting boring. You come in with your cookie cutter narrative and try to silence everyone who dares to say something different. Not opposite, not contrary - just different. You see every deviation for you simplistic narrative as being being equally bad. You think I didn't know this is exactly how you will react to my comment? I was sure you will show up and try to silence me as I was typing it. To be clear, if you get robbed and I say "you should get an alarm" I'm not blaming you and defending the robber. I know it's incomprehensible to you but two things can be true at the same time: the abuser can be 100% at fault and people can do things to limit the possibility of being abused. Lemmy is full of technologically capable people. Pointing out here that you should control your devices is not an extreme view here. It's factual statement. That being said, I'm bored and I will just ignore you from now on.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago

    was sure you will show up and try to silence me as I was typing it.

    I am happy that I am having enough influence on Lemmy to make people like you second guess when they leave comments like this blaming only the victim and saying nothing about the abuser.

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  • [–] -3 points 1 month ago* (2 children)

    wow so you cant see the difference there either. you abusers sure all love telling on yourselves.

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  • [–] -4 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    I see prejudice, that's enough.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago*

    I see so if your parents get scammed for every last penny leaving you no inheritance because they were too embarrassed and felt a bottomless pit of shame and humiliation to come forward about scam artists because no one can be vulnerable around you because you blame them for any misfortune. They can't turn to you just for some strength or advice to do next steps for disaster management because disasters, challenges and growth aren't permitted in your world.

    And let me guess: everyone in the world 'annoys' you.

    Wonderful relationship and empathy material of a typical npd.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago

    Smart devices are for dumb people.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 month ago

    Trade in the f'n neo-Nazi vehicle! There are plenty of better EV's on the market.

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago

    And this is why both my cars are 40 years old.

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  • [–] 4 points 1 month ago (12 children)

    We need a “right to be treated as an adult” affirmed by Congress that prohibits use of parental controls against users who can demonstrate adulthood by presentation of ID

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  • [–] 16 points 1 month ago (11 children)

    Oh hooray another mandatory ID checkpoint! Don't resist, it's only for your safety and convenience, no other reasons!

    /s

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  • [–] 6 points 1 month ago (7 children)

    No /s needed mate. A car checking ID is laughable.

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  • [–] -5 points 1 month ago (6 children)

    Why wouldn’t your management account for a car need to know whether you’re a licensed driver?

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  • [–] 5 points 1 month ago (5 children)

    Because it's neither the cops nor fucking human??

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  • [–] -4 points 1 month ago (4 children)

    Why would it be legal for you to drive a car without a license

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  • [–] 3 points 1 month ago (3 children)
    1. Why should an App be even allowed to judge over legality?!

    2. In cases of emergency (life threatening injuries, or to escape life threatening situations) you are allowed to drive whatever if you have to.

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  • [–] -2 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    An app should be allowed to manage the legal exposure of permitting you to use it to do something illegal, if we’re going to permit apps to be sued because they didn’t stop someone from doing something illegal.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 month ago (1 child)

    And driving without a licence can be legal, so an app shouldn't be allowed to restrict users.

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  • [–] -2 points 1 month ago

    Then pass a law that prevents them from doing so. You can’t have it both ways - you can’t hold them legally liable for illegal uses of their platform or technology and bar them from trying to stop illegal uses of their technology.

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  • [–] -1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    I’m not saying you should be required to show it; just that if you can, and do, they should be barred from applying juvenile controls to the account held by you, an adult.

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