---
title: "Hackers Are Reprogramming Lime Scooters to Make Sexual Comments"
description: "Several Lime scooters had to be pulled off the streets of Brisbane after hackers made them play sexually explicit audio recordings."
date: "2019-04-24"
modified: "2019-04-24"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/hackers-reprogramming-lime-scooters-sexual-comments"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
tags:
  - "hacking"
  - "lime"
  - "scooters"
  - "the digest"
  - "transport"
---

# Hackers Are Reprogramming Lime Scooters to Make Sexual Comments

![Several Lime scooters had to be pulled off the streets of Brisbane after hackers made them play sexually explicit audio recordings.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hackers-reprogramming-lime-scooters-sexual-comments.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Lime\</em\>*

## R-Rated App

The electric scooter company Lime's ongoing trial period in Brisbane, Australia isn't going so great, [according to *Gizmodo*](<https://gizmodo.com/lime-scooters-hacked-to-say-sexual-things-to-riders-in-1834264534>) — at least eight scooters have been pulled from the streets because hackers replaced the usual audio messages with sexually explicit comments.

All things considered, hacking scooters to make sexual comments is a fairly benign, if insensitive, prank compared to other hacks that can cause bodily harm. But the prevalence of e-scooter hacks in Brisbane around the world points to security flaws in vehicles that are becoming ubiquitous in many large cities.

## Okay Fine, Here:

"Okay, if you're going to ride my ass then please pull my hair, okay?" said one scooter when unlocked, [according to YouTube footage](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxrdj9JU-Mk&feature=youtu.be>) uploaded Monday.

Other [video footage](<https://twitter.com/7newsbrisbane/status/1120464091406057472>) captured by *7News Brisbane* shows some of the other lewd comments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxrdj9JU-Mk&feature=youtu.be

## Security Considerations

This isn't the biggest problem Lime has faced in Brisbane — the company had to patch its software last month after reports that people were getting hurt riding scooters that suddenly locked up, [according to the *Brisbane Times*](<https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/decision-day-for-brisbane-s-lime-scooters-after-glitch-throws-riders-20190318-p5150z.html>). Lime has also been forced to recall scooters elsewhere in the world because they [spontaneously combusted](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/report-lime-recalling-scooters-catching-fire>).

For now, Lime has responded to the hacks by calling them disappointing in a [statement to the *Brisbane Times*](<https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/hacked-lime-scooters-play-offensive-voice-messages-20190423-p51ghx.html>).

"It's not smart, it's not funny and is akin to changing a ringtone," said the representative.

**READ MORE:** [Lime Scooters Hacked to Say Sexual Things to Riders in Australia](<https://gizmodo.com/lime-scooters-hacked-to-say-sexual-things-to-riders-in-1834264534>) \[*Gizmodo*\]

**More on e-scooter hacks:** *[Hackers Can Access Your Electric Scooter While You’re Riding It](<https://futurism.com/hackers-remotely-access-electric-scooter>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)