US Proposes Ban on Smart Vehicles with Chinese and Russian Technology

US to propose ban on smart vehicles with Chinese and Russian technology

While speaking to reporters in a conference call on Sunday, US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said that a US government probe that started in February found various national security risks from embedded software and hardware from China and Russia in US vehicles, including the possibility of remote sabotage by hacking and the collection of personal data on drivers. She stated, "In extreme situations, 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 (or) blocking roads." Speaking to CNN, a senior administration official said that the rule will not be applicable to the cars already on the road in the US that already have Chinese software installed. According to the US Commerce Department , the software ban would come into effect for vehicles for "model year" 2027 and the hardware ban for "model year" 2030. The proposed regulatory action is part of a much broader struggle between the US and China to secure the supply chains of the key computing technology of the future, from semiconductors to AI. US officials are worried as China, especially, has invested in the connected car market and inroads made by Chinese manufacturers in Europe. The US Commerce Department's proposed rule will be applicable on "connected vehicles," a broad term for virtually any modern car, bus or truck that uses network connections for roadside assistance, satellite communications or a range of other features. It covers hardware and software that interact with key technology that allows a vehicle to communicate with the outside world, like Bluetooth, WiFi and cellular technology. Speaking to reporters, a senior administration official said there will be a 30-day public comment period on the proposed rule and the Commerce Department aims to issue a final regulation before the end of the Biden administration. The official said that the US administration will release an economic analysis of the expected costs for automakers and consumers to comply with the proposed rule on Monday. Raimondo stressed that Monday's announcement was not a protectionist move. She said, "This is not about trade or economic advantage." She said, "This is a strictly national security action." She stated, "If (China) or Russia, for example, could collect data on where the driver lives or what school their kids go to, where (their) doctor is, that's data that would leave that American vulnerable." US officials have been concerned that electric charging stations and other infrastructure outfitted with certain hardware or software could be exploited by hackers with ties to China, Russia or other foreign powers. Speaking to reporters on the conference call, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that US has seen ample evidence of China's pre-positioning malware on US' critical infrastructure for the purpose of disruption and sabotage. Sullivan said, "We've already seen ample evidence of the PRC pre-positioning malware on our critical infrastructure for the purpose of disruption and sabotage. He further said, "If millions more smart cars with vulnerable, Chinese-made tech are on US roads, "the risk of disruption and sabotage increases dramatically." The Chinese government has rejected US allegations that its hackers have embedded in US infrastructure. In a statement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said, "China opposes the US's broadening of the concept of national security and the discriminatory actions taken against Chinese companies and products." "We urge the US side to respect market principles and provide an open, fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises," Lin added. Earlier in June, the US Commerce Department imposed a ban on the sale and provision of certain products and services manufactured by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab, whose anti-virus software is used by millions of people around the world. (ANI)

US-China relations may see big hit with likely ban on these Chinese software and hardware - Times of India

The US Commerce Department is set to announce a significant new regulation aimed at addressing national security concerns posed by Chinese technology in connected and autonomous vehicles. According to a report by news agency Reuters, quoting sources familiar with the matter, the department will propose prohibiting the import and sale of vehicles from China that use Chinese-made software or hardware in key communications or automated driving systems. The Biden administration has expressed deep concerns about the potential for Chinese companies to collect sensitive data on US drivers and infrastructure, as well as the risk of foreign manipulation of internet-connected vehicles.The proposed ban represents a significant escalation in the US government's efforts to limit the influence of Chinese technology in the American market. Car Hacking Fears Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in May the risks of Chinese software or hardware in connected US vehicles were significant. "You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled," she reportedly said. The Commerce Department plans to provide a 30-day public comment period before finalizing the rules. The proposed prohibitions would extend to vehicles with certain Bluetooth, satellite, and wireless features, as well as highly autonomous vehicles capable of operating without a human driver. Car Makers Not in Favour of Ban The move is expected to face opposition from the automotive industry, which has warned that changing hardware and software in vehicles. While there are relatively few Chinese-made light-duty vehicles imported into the US, the proposed regulation would have broader implications for the security of the connected vehicle supply chain. A trade group representing major automakers including General Motors, Toyota Motor, Volkswagen, Hyundai and others had reportedly warned that changing hardware and software would take time and is costly. The carmakers noted that their systems "undergo extensive pre-production engineering, testing, and validation processes and, in general, cannot be easily swapped with systems or components from a different supplier." The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

Connected Car Tech From China Faces US Ban | PYMNTS.com

The U.S. is reportedly readying a ban on Chinese technology in connected and autonomous cars. That prohibition -- borne of national security concerns -- from the U.S. Commerce Department is expected on Monday (Sept. 23), Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter. Those sources said the proposal would ban the import and sale of vehicles from China with key communications or automated driving system software or hardware. The report noted that the White House has raised concerns that Chinese companies could collect data on American drivers, or that foreign governments could manipulate vehicles connected to the internet and navigation systems. Earlier this year, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned of the potential threats from Chinese software or hardware in connected U.S. vehicles. "You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled," she said. As noted here earlier this year, the Automotive Edge Computing Consortium (AECC) has projected that there will be 100 million connected vehicles on the road next year, with data transmissions between vehicles and the cloud adding up to about 10 exabytes per month -- equivalent to 10 billion gigabytes. A 2021 report by the AECC stressed the unique challenges posed by connected vehicles, arguing that for these cars, "the amount of uploaded data is massive, concentrated (in time and location) and often time sensitive." In other automotive tech news, PYMNTS wrote earlier this month about the way that generative artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a major driver of innovation in vehicle design and development. The technology, that report said, lets engineers quickly explore numerous design variations, optimizing things like vehicle aesthetics and performance attributes. "This shift is supported by compelling industry data," PYMNTS wrote. "Consider 93% of automotive stakeholders agree that generative AI will significantly impact the industry and 75% plan to integrate it into their operations within the year." The generative AI market in the automotive sector is forecast to balloon from $335 million last year to $2.6 billion by 2033, which translates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23%. "This anticipated growth underscores a commitment to the technology among research and development departments, with nearly 70% of decision-makers prioritizing its adoption," PYMNTS wrote.