Safeguards needed in new era of transportation

When President Obama got behind the wheel of a new electric car the other day, it signified the approach of a new era in transportation.

Already, even with conventional gasoline-powered cars, your mechanic is more of a computer technician than a grease monkey.

And, as anyone who works with computers can tell you, sometimes you need some technical support.

That's what a group of independent auto and maintenance shops are worried about. As cars become more and more sophisticated, independent mechanics worry the big car companies won't give them, or the owners, the technical details they need to work on cars.

Two groups, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality are urging Congress to support the Right to Repair Act to require automakers to provide the same service information and tools to independent auto and maintenance shops, as well as to consumers, that the automaker dealership service centers receive.

According to proponents of the bill, it would not take the manufacturer's intellectual property, affect warranties or require manufacturers to disclose manufacturing processes or trade secrets.

It would, however, reaffirm the owners' right to repair their own automobile and permit owners to choose the repair shop and replacement parts needed to service and maintain their vehicles.

While we're not generally in favor of more federal involvement in our everyday lives -- the Federal Trade Commission would be charged with enforcing the Right to Repair Act -- the right to take your car to your favorite mechanic is a right worth protecting.

Former Gazette publisher Gene Morris' experience with having his e-mail account hijacked should be a good reminder to us all to use caution when on the Internet.

In case you missed the story, he was inundated with calls earlier this week after people in his Yahoo account address book began receiving messages that Morris was stranded in Spain and in need of money. He wasn't, of course, and spent all morning answering worried telephone calls at his home in McCook.

The lesson? Be careful when giving out any information over the Internet, and change your passwords regularly.

In a related note, Monday's editorial about the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia restricting BlackBerry should have noted that the countries are especially concerned about BlackBerrys because they are the industry leader in e-mail encryption. Government snoops tend to be especially concerned when they can't read our personal mail.