---
title: "Elon Musk Reveals Reason for Mysterious Cameras Inside Teslas"
description: "Elon Musk revealed why the Model 3 has a cabin-facing camera above the rearview mirror: to make sure that \"robotaxi\" passengers don't vandalize the car"
date: "2020-04-13"
modified: "2020-04-13"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-reason-mysterious-cameras-inside-teslas"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Elon Musk"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Tesla"
  - "The Industrialists"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "Model 3"
  - "tesla"
  - "the digest"
---

# Elon Musk Reveals Reason for Mysterious Cameras Inside Teslas

![Elon Musk revealed why the Model 3 has a cabin-facing camera above the rearview mirror: to make sure that "robotaxi" passengers don't vandalize the car](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/elon-musk-reason-mysterious-cameras-inside-teslas.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Tesla\</em\>*

## Robotaxi Mode

Tesla CEO Elon Musk finally revealed why the Model 3 has a cabin-facing camera mounted above the rearview mirror: to make sure that "robotaxi" passengers don't vandalize the car when nobody's in the driver's seat.

Referring to the mysterious camera, Musk tweeted that "it's not turned on," in a [Sunday tweet](<https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1249209784374607873>).

"Meant for vandalism monitoring in a robotaxi future," he added. "Also, the car has transparent windows, so spying has limited value."

## Say Cheese!

There's been plenty of speculation about the passenger-facing cameras in the Model 3. Musk has previously [hinted](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-camera-robotaxi>) that it could be used as part of the "Caraoke feature," allowing drivers and passengers to record themselves singing along, as part of a software release from last year.

A Tesla [patent application](<https://electrek.co/2019/07/24/tesla-use-camera-inside-cars-personalize-in-car-experience/>) also hinted that the camera could be part of a "personalization system" that could adapt settings depending on who's sitting in the driver's seat.

**READ MORE:** [Elon Musk reveals the reason behind Tesla’s cabin-facing camera](<https://electrek.co/2020/04/12/elon-musk-tesla-cabin-facing-camera-reason/>) \[*Electrek*\]

**More on the camera:** *[Elon Musk: Camera Inside Teslas is “Meant for Robotaxi” Mode](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/elon-musk-camera-robotaxi>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)