FEARS are growing in the West over whether Chinese-made cars could be used as tools for espionage as vehicles are becoming increasingly connected.
Equipped with sophisticated sensors, GPS systems, and communication tools, these cars collect vast amounts of data, making them potential surveillance devices in the eyes of security experts.
Today’s vehicles are no longer just modes of transportation, but rather data hubs on wheels.
Modern electric and smart cars — loaded with cameras, microphones, GPS tracking, and internet-connected gadgets — can collect enormous amounts of information and even remotely vehicles’ controls.
Everything from your location and driving habits to your conversations and personal contacts could potentially be accessed and transmitted.
The GPS, for instance, could track the driver’s movements, while mics used for voice activation and hands-free calls could also be hacked.
And driverless technology could be overridden by a malicious actor to steer the vehicle.
For Chinese car manufacturers like BYD, Geely, and NIO, this wealth of data could be invaluable — not just for improving car functionality but potentially for more wicked purposes.
Western governments are increasingly worried that this data, particularly when handled by Chinese companies, might be shared with the Chinese government, creating a serious national security risk.
At the heart of this concern is China’s Cybersecurity Law, which compels companies to store data on Chinese soil and to cooperate with the government when national security is involved.
For Chinese car manufacturers with global ambitions, this law has sparked fears in the West that data collected from cars driven in Europe or the US could be funnelled back to Beijing.
The Biden administration, for instance, last week announced intentions to outlaw parts “with a sufficient nexus” to China, raising concerns about the increasing number of Chinese components included in electric and potential self-driving cars.
Chinese parts for automated driving and vehicle connectivity will not be allowed, according to the US Department of Commerce, which claimed that “malicious access” may enable enemies to “remotely manipulate cars on American roads.”
Gina Raimondo, Biden’s commerce secretary, said the plans were “targeted, proactive” steps to protect America.
She said: “Cars today have cameras, microphones, GPS tracking and other technologies connected to the internet.
“It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of US citizens.”
The proposal, which will now go through a comment period, is the White House’s latest attempt to limit China’s influence in the vehicle manufacturing supply chain, the BBC reports.
The White House has also increased duties on electric cars, batteries for electric vehicles, and a variety of other commodities.
It has also prohibited the purchase of Chinese-made cargo cranes, warning of cyber-security risks.
China’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, called the move “discriminatory”.
Much like the controversies surrounding Chinese tech giant Huawei, whose telecommunications equipment has been banned or restricted in several countries over similar fears, Chinese cars are now being scrutinised for their potential to serve as digital Trojan horses.
While the data these vehicles collect might seem harmless to the average consumer, for governments and corporations, the risks are much higher.
Imagine a government official, military officer, or corporate executive driving a Chinese-made vehicle.
That car could theoretically track their location, listen in on conversations, or gather data about sensitive sites they visit.
Such scenarios, while speculative, are enough to cause alarm among Western intelligence agencies.
The idea that a foreign power could exploit connected cars for espionage has led to increasing regulatory scrutiny in the US and Europe by security experts,
According to James Lewis, a former US official at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, US officials drafting a ban on Chinese interference became concerned after Volt Typhoon, a state-backed hacking network, compromised internet-connected devices in US critical infrastructure for years.
He said: “It was the finding that the Chinese attacked American critical infrastructure and put malicious software on critical infrastructure, that was a lot of what drove this.
“If they’re willing to do that, what else are they willing to do? Suppose the day that something bad happens in Taiwan, they turn off all the cars in San Diego.”
According to Biden administration officials, just discouraging the sale of Chinese vehicles was insufficient, because modules like these could be marketed inside Western cars.
Lewis speculated that the ban’s lengthy schedule – some of the anticipated limits will not go into effect until 2029 – was intended to allow German firms time to identify alternative sources.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan added: “We’ve already seen ample evidence that [China] pre-positioned malware in our critical infrastructure for disruption and sabotage.
“And with potentially millions of vehicles on the road, each with 10- to 15-year life spans, the risks of disruption and sabotage increase dramatically.”
Beijing has never been confirmed to use automotive supply chains to spy on the West (though a Chinese tracking device was allegedly discovered inside a UK government vehicle last year).
However, escalating tensions between the West and China indicate that the chance is sufficient.
