No, it's been a feature pretty much forever. The thing is, you basically get '3 strikes'. It starts with a simple visual warning, then progresses to an angrier visual warning, then starts beeping, then louder beeper, then it disables and starts slowing the car down (and puts hazards on, etc).

You've got quite a bit of time before it actually does this. As long as you jiggle the steering wheel every ~20 seconds or so, it shouldn't actually stop the car or disable autopilot.

It is fairly easy to cheat.... you can buy a weight that you attach to the steering wheel, and it will think you are grabbing it.

Super dangerous and stupid, but people do it.