Opinion: Self-Driving Car Opponents Are Luddites, Not the Insult You Think

A group called Safe Street Rebel is opposing driverless cars in San Francisco, using orange cones to stop them. The Week of Cone campaign has gained millions of views on social media and sparked debate.

The activists are concerned about the expansion of self-driving car companies, which could increase traffic and harm mass transit. They have been labeled “Luddites” by pro-tech voices.

The actual Luddites protested broad economic distress and job loss caused by the adoption of new technologies. Similarly, opposition to self-driving cars is about more than just the vehicles themselves.

The San Francisco Taxi Workers Alliance plans to protest the California Public Utilities Commission, arguing that self-driving car companies have an advantage over traditional taxi drivers.

Safe Street Rebel activists support labor rights and are not against technology as a whole.

Waymo has threatened to involve law enforcement against the activists, but it’s unclear which laws are being broken. The group believes self-driving cars prioritize cars over pedestrians and cyclists.

Uber, a company known for its opposition to workers’ rights, has partnered with a driverless tech company. Gig workers are concerned about losing their jobs to automation.

In an ideal world, AI and automation would free up time for humans, but there are challenges in ensuring that the benefits of innovation are distributed equitably.