Biden administration raises espionage concerns over Chinese vehicles in the U.S.

Modern cars equipped with cameras, sensors, and microphones can ease the driver’s experience, but they pose potential risks for society. The Biden administration has raised concerns about the potential espionage use of vehicles manufactured with Chinese software and is advocating for a ban on such vehicles in the U.S. Tapio Frantti, a professor specializing in cybersecurity, asserts that the risk is real. He pointed out that vehicles in sensitive areas, such as military zones, could act as potential spying devices.

Frantti describes modern cars as computers on wheels, always connected for purposes like emergency calls and software updates. Software might contain backdoors or might be updated to allow unauthorized external access, potentially permitting remote control of the vehicle. For example, a car could be commanded to transmit images, sounds, and location data or even cause it to crash into a target. Tests have shown that remote operation is indeed feasible.

China has acknowledged the espionage risks by prohibiting the use of American-made Teslas near military areas. The Finnish Defense Forces are aware of these espionage concerns but do not specifically target Chinese vehicles. They evaluate risks among high-tech vehicles in general, with a focus on international collaboration.

In Norway and Denmark, defense forces currently do not restrict Chinese cars’ movements, although Denmark has banned Chinese mobile phones and removed Chinese surveillance cameras from its navy. Finland’s defense forces have also discontinued the use of Chinese drones due to data security reasons.

Concerns extend beyond surveillance intentions; data from any modern vehicle may automatically transmit sensitive information globally, which Frantti has personally experienced with his own car.