In a recent development, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken a firm stance against the unauthorized use of its seal in anti-Tesla commercials aired during the Super Bowl. The NTSB, a federal regulatory agency, has denounced The Dawn Project for including its seal in commercials critical of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta technologies.
The NTSB, in a press release on Monday, highlighted that The Dawn Project did not obtain permission to use its seal, which is a violation of federal law. The agency emphasized that the unauthorized use of its seal falsely suggests endorsement of The Dawn Project's message. Consequently, the NTSB has demanded The Dawn Project to cease using its seal immediately to safeguard the agency's reputation.
Furthermore, the NTSB directed The Dawn Project to remove the seal from all materials, including its website, YouTube page, and any future broadcasts of the contentious commercial. The agency underscored its commitment to highway safety investigations and provided recommendations for Level 2 automated vehicles.
The commercial aired by The Dawn Project made alarming claims about Tesla's Autopilot and FSD beta, alleging that tragic accidents occurred due to Tesla's refusal to restrict Autopilot to freeways and implying that the FSD beta poses risks to pedestrians, including children.
This development echoes Tesla's previous legal actions against The Dawn Project for similar misleading advertisements in 2022. Despite repeated debunking of claims against Autopilot and FSD beta, The Dawn Project's persistence in airing commercials critical of Tesla underscores ongoing tensions between Tesla proponents and critics.
Tesla emphasizes that both Autopilot and FSD beta systems are not autonomous and require drivers to remain fully attentive, ready to intervene if necessary. The company warns against misconceptions about its technologies and reiterates its commitment to safety.
For more details, you can view the NTSB's full letter to The Dawn Project and related materials, including screenshots and the controversial commercial, below.
Learn more about Tesla's safety measures and technological advancements here.
