Does China’s rapid rise in the Australian car market pose a security risk? Possibly!

What about other Western countries? Are these mere speculations or suspicions?

TikTok is certainly not the only way to gain access to data and to control devices etc.

"The news that China was the fourth largest source of car imports to Australia in 2022 would have come as a surprise to all but the closest observers of the automotive industry. Behind only Japan, Thailand and South Korea, sales of Chinese-made cars were up 61% on their 2021 figure to almost 123,000. ...

As cars have become more technologically advanced, they have turned into what are essentially rolling computers. Modern cars are swathed in cameras and sensors and increasingly connected to the internet for ‘over the air’ tasks like updating software. They collect data ranging from location and routes driven to phone contacts and calls made by drivers. Such data could be used to put together a comprehensive picture of a person’s activities, and, if a car’s owner drives to work at a secure facility, for example, potentially pose a risk to national security.

Researchers and hackers have already shown that they can remotely stop the engines and lock and unlock vehicles made by numerous manufacturers, while others have tracked vehicle locations and gathered drivers’ financial details. ...

As Wired reported last year, China has banned Teslas from the streets of certain cities for major communist party events, as well as military bases and other locations, out of what’s thought to be concern that the vehicles’ data could be exploited. Beijing has now banned automotive companies from sending that data outside of China. ...

Reports that ‘tracking devices’ containing SIM cards were found in sealed components in UK government vehicles have highlighted concerns about the prevalence of Chinese-made parts in the wider automotive industry. Such devices could allow a vehicle’s location to be tracked and would have gone unnoticed had searches not been conducted.

Almost all major car companies source parts from China and some, including BMW, Volkswagen, Volvo, Jaguar and Land Rover, have reportedly worked with China Unicom, which is banned in the US, to develop 5G vehicle connectivity. ..."

Does China’s rapid rise in the Australian car market pose a security risk? | The Strategist