The billionaire behind Trump’s ‘unhackable’ phone is on a mission to fight Tesla’s FSD

The billionaire behind Trump's 'unhackable' phone is on a mission to fight Tesla's FSD

October 21, 2024 at 03:38PM

Dan O’Dowd, founder of Green Hills Software, has developed an “unhackable” operating system, Integrity-178B, for secure communications, used by Trump and the military. He also critiques Tesla’s self-driving technology, calling it dangerous. O’Dowd previously ran for the Senate to address autonomous vehicle safety, gaining media attention and support.

### Meeting Takeaways

1. **Donald Trump and Communications Kit**:
– Donald Trump has acquired an “unhackable” communications tool, featuring the Integrity-178B operating system developed by Dan O’Dowd.

2. **Dan O’Dowd’s Background**:
– O’Dowd is the founder of Green Hills Software and has a strong focus on secure software development, claiming his operating system is nearly unhackable.
– He has significant experience and wealth from developing secure code primarily for military and government applications.

3. **Security Community Concerns**:
– Experts like Bruce Schneier have criticized the claim of an “unhackable” operating system, stating such assertions undermine credibility.

4. **Integrity-178B Operating System**:
– The operating system is designed for high-security applications and has approximately 10,000 lines of code, allowing for thorough scrutiny by specialized teams.
– It has received Evaluation Assurance Level 6 certification and operates under strict security protocols, mainly in military and government sectors.

5. **Criticism of Tesla’s Self-Driving Technology**:
– O’Dowd launched the Dawn Project to highlight safety issues with Tesla’s self-driving software, claiming it is inadequate and linked to fatalities.
– He advocates for better self-driving solutions, citing Waymo as a model for effective autonomous vehicle technology.

6. **Political Engagement**:
– O’Dowd ran for the Senate with a campaign focused on banning unsafe autonomous vehicles, gaining over 74,000 votes.
– His Dawn Project has purchased advertising to raise awareness about Tesla’s self-driving risks and continues to seek political support.

7. **Recent Actions**:
– O’Dowd has used significant advertising expenditures, including spots during the Super Bowl, to promote his campaign against Tesla’s technology, which has drawn attention from Tesla for its critical messages.

Overall, the meeting highlighted both the technological advancements and contentious issues surrounding security in operating systems and the self-driving vehicle industry.

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