IBM has recently taken a step forward towards throwing privacy out the window by submitting a patent application for “A System and Method
for Controlling Vehicle Engine Running State at Busy Intersections for
Increased Fuel Consumption Efficiency”.
This system would operate via traffic lights.

It goes without saying that this is a bad thing. As Ariel Schwartz points out, hackers could get ahold of this, which means very bad things could happen, and let’s not even get into what would happen if GovCo got control of a system like this. I don’t believe for a second that something like this would be used solely for fule efficiency. I suspect, however, that the patent will be granted. Brave New World, here we come.