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White House probes Chinese smart cars, cites national security concerns

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The White House announced on Thursday, Feb. 29, that the U.S. is launching an investigation into whether Chinese “smart cars” are a national security risk, according to Reuters. The probe could also lead to restrictions due to concern over “connected” car technology, according to the Biden administration.

The U.S. Commerce Department will be handling the investigation. U.S. officials are concerned because vehicles “collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers.” In addition, the White House said that the vehicles use “cameras and sensors to record detailed information on U.S. infrastructure.”

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The Commerce Department warns that Chinese-made vehicles have the potential to be “piloted or disabled remotely.” The probe will also look into self-driving vehicles, according to Reuters.

The investigation comes as the world sees a surge in the popularity of high-tech vehicles from Chinese automakers like BYD. However, President Joe Biden said it’s too early to declare what actions might be taken, according to a White House statement.

China isn’t saying much about the probe by the White House. However, Chinese officials reportedly said that it’s unfair to target a specific country.

China is also reportedly dominating the EV battery supply chain. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the U.S. is trying to find a way to build a China-free supply of EV batteries.

This is not the first time U.S. officials have sounded alarm bells over Chinese-manufactured cars. In November, a bipartisan group of lawmakers raised concerns over Chinese companies testing autonomous vehicles in the U.S., potentially gathering sensitive data.

Now, Biden has joined the chorus of those concerned over security.

“Why should connected vehicles from China be allowed to operate in our country without safeguards?” Biden said.

The Commerce Department said there will be a 60-day window for public comment, after which it will consider any new rules that need to be made. U.S. companies are not immune to the rules, according to the department. U.S. automakers must submit details on their assembled fleet within the country and will be asked to disclose where they license their software.

The investigation into smart cars comes a week after the Biden administration announced plans to replace Chinese-manufactured cranes at national ports. The Wall Street Journal reported that the administration is investing billions of dollars into the project in hopes of preventing China from hacking into the cranes systems.

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[JACK AYLMER]

ARE CHINESE CARS SPYING ON AMERICANS?

THAT’S WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO KNOW.

THE PRESIDENT LAUNCHING A PROBE THURSDAY OVER CONCERNS SO-CALLED “SMART CARS” FROM CHINA COULD BE A RISK TO NATIONAL SECURITY.

EXPERTS WARN THE CCP COULD USE THE AUTOS’ SOFTWARE, SENSORS, AND CAMERAS FOR ESPIONAGE AND SABOTAGE.

THE CONCERN COMES AS THE WORLD SEES A SURGE IN POPULARITY OF HIGH-TECH VEHICLES FROM CHINESE AUTOMAKERS LIKE BYD.

PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS IT’S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT ACTIONS MIGHT BE TAKEN.

BIDEN ALSO SAID THERE IS NO DECISION ON A POTENTIAL BAN OR RESTRICTIONS, YET.

BUT HERE’S WHY THE U.S. IS WORRIED.

NOT ONLY DO EXPERTS SAY THE CARS COULD COLLECT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION, THE CAMERAS AND SENSORS ON THE CAR ALSO HAVE THE POWER TO RECORD “DETAILED INFORMATION ON U.S. INFRASTRUCTURE.”

SO, HOW IS CHINA RESPONDING?

THEY’RE MUM, RIGHT NOW.

HOWEVER, CHINESE OFFICIALS SAY IT’S UNFAIR TO TARGET A SPECIFIC COUNTRY.

THE INVESTIGATION COMES AS CHINA IS DOMINATING THE EV BATTERY SUPPLY CHAIN.

AND THE U.S. IS SEEKING A WAY TO BUILD A CHINA-FREE SUPPLY OF EV BATTERIES.

AND THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME U.S. OFFICIALS HAVE SOUNDED ALARM BELLS

LAWMAKERS RAISED WORRIES BACK IN NOVEMBER, WHILE CHINESE COMPANIES TESTED AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES IN THE U.S.

BIDEN HAS JOINED THE CHORUS OF THOSE CONCERNED OVER SECURITY, SAYING, “WHY SHOULD CONNECTED VEHICLES FROM CHINA BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN OUR COUNTRY WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS?”

THE FEDS SAY THERE’S NOW A TWO-MONTH WINDOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS, AFTER WHICH,

THEY’LL CONSIDER IF ANY NEW RULES NEED TO BE MADE.

U.S. COMPANIES AREN’T OFF THE HOOK, THE COMMENT PERIOD ALSO WANTS DETAILS ON U.S. ASSEMBLED VEHICLES, AND WHERE AUTOMAKERS LICENSE THEIR SOFTWARE.

CNN REPORTS, THE PROBE COULD LEAD TO SOME CAR PARTS BEING RESTRICTED IN THE U.S.