Stacey, a woman from Sydney, experienced ongoing harassment through her Tesla vehicle after her relationship with Enrico Pucci ended. Over several nights, she heard her car alarm activate without cause and later discovered that a parental control profile had been added to her car’s system without her permission. This profile allowed Pucci to remotely control key functions of the Tesla, including speed limits, climate settings, door locks, and curfew hours.
Police records reveal that Pucci used the Tesla app to repeatedly alter the car’s temperature and limit its speed to 40 km/h by activating Valet Mode, creating unsafe driving conditions for Stacey. She had no access to override these controls, which caused her significant distress and fear for her safety.
Pucci was convicted of 30 domestic violence-related charges, including using the Tesla app to harass Stacey. The court heard that his abusive behavior spanned four years and involved various forms of coercion and control, such as forging employment opportunities to foster dependency and restricting Stacey’s autonomy.
The case underscores the potential dangers of connected vehicle technologies when exploited by abusers. Stacey had initially agreed to register the Tesla in Pucci’s name to receive technical assistance, which ultimately gave him unauthorized control over the vehicle.
Pucci’s history includes previous convictions for assault and a federal court finding related to labor exploitation at a company he owned. He is currently appealing his sentence and is scheduled to appear in court again later this year.
This case highlights the importance of security and privacy considerations in smart vehicle technology, especially as such systems can be misused in domestic abuse scenarios to exert control and cause harm.