US aims to block Chinese and Russian vehicles for good
Move over, TikTok, the US government is considering banning Chinese cars like BYD as well. Citing national security risks of hacking and data collection, the Commerce Department has proposed a ban on Chinese and Russian hardware and software in vehicles with an internet connection — so basically all new vehicles.
"When foreign adversaries build software to make a vehicle that means it can be used for surveillance, can be remotely controlled, which threatens the privacy and safety of Americans on the road," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said during a press briefing. “In an extreme situation, a foreign adversary could shut down or take control of all their vehicles operating in the United States all at the same time causing crashes, blocking roads.”
Currently there are few Chinese or Russian vehicles on the road to begin with, but if the rule goes through it could make it so there never are.
Buyers know it's already extremely hard to opt out of the data privacy nightmare that comes pre-installed on new cars, which have been called “surveillance machines on wheels," even without the added uncertainty of a foreign government's whims.
"When foreign adversaries build software to make a vehicle that means it can be used for surveillance, can be remotely controlled, which threatens the privacy and safety of Americans on the road," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said during a press briefing. “In an extreme situation, a foreign adversary could shut down or take control of all their vehicles operating in the United States all at the same time causing crashes, blocking roads.”
Currently there are few Chinese or Russian vehicles on the road to begin with, but if the rule goes through it could make it so there never are.
Buyers know it's already extremely hard to opt out of the data privacy nightmare that comes pre-installed on new cars, which have been called “surveillance machines on wheels," even without the added uncertainty of a foreign government's whims.
