Viral videos inspire car theft epidemic affecting Kia and Hyundai owners across US

Kia and Hyundai owners across the US have had their cars stolen or damaged due to a security vulnerability in some models sold without engine immobilizers.
Social media platforms, including TikTok, have taught people how to exploit the vulnerability by starting the cars with USB cables, leading to a sharp increase in car thefts, especially by juveniles.
Attorneys general from 17 states and multiple cities have taken or plan to take legal action against the automakers to force a recall they argue is necessary to fix the issue.
The trend has been linked to at least 14 crashes and eight fatalities, and police expect the numbers to be higher.
Lawmakers and safety advocates have blamed social media companies for allowing instructional videos that encourage illegal and dangerous behavior to spread on their platforms.