The Biden Administration will probe Chinese “smart-cars” for security risks…
According to a report from The Washington Times, President Biden and his administration have launched an investigation into “smart-cars” from China to determine if they pose a security risk by accessing the private information of American drivers.
The probe could result in new regulations.
“China is determined to dominate the future of the auto market, including by using unfair practices,” President Biden said in a statement. “China’s policies could flood our market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security. I’m not going to let that happen on my watch.”
According to The Times, “Connected cars are similar to smartphones on wheels because they can connect to phones, navigation systems, infrastructure and to the companies that made them. Administration officials say they worry all that data is being used by the Chinese government to track Americans.”
“It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out how a foreign adversary like China, with access to this sort of information at scale, could pose a serious risk to our national security and the privacy of U.S. citizens,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
“Imagine if there were thousands or hundreds of thousands of Chinese-connected vehicles on American roads that could be immediately and simultaneously disabled by somebody in Beijing,” Raimondo added. “So it’s scary to contemplate the cyber risks, espionage risks that these pose.”
A few of the vehicles made in China include the Buick Envision, Volvo EX30 and Polestar 2. Ford has also announced plans to build a Lincoln Nautilus in China.
“The investigation will be conducted by the Department of Commerce through its Bureau of Industry and Security,’ The Times reports. “Under the plan, Commerce will seek information from the auto industry and the public on the nature of the risks and potential steps to mitigate them. Officials will then adopt potential regulations to govern the use of technology in vehicles from China and other countries, including Russia and Iran.”
Maybe the Biden Administration is finally taking the China threat seriously.
