The department cites national security concerns as the motivation.
The Department of Commerce recently proposed a regulation that seeks to prevent Chinese hardware and software from being used in any car sold and used in the United States. This prohibition would essentially ban all Chinese-made cars and trucks from the American market.
The Commerce Department said this ban may be necessary due to national security concerns. Nearly all hardware and software in newer cars and trucks use electronics necessary for internet access and data sharing, which can lead to covert data collection if not monitored at an early stage.
Currently, Chinese-made cars or light-duty trucks are only occasionally imported into the United States. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the department is acting “before suppliers, automakers and car components linked to China or Russia become commonplace and widespread… We’re not going to wait until our roads are filled with cars and the risk is extremely significant.”
“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,” Secretary Raimondo said. “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.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Raimondo to seek God’s wisdom as she heads the Commerce Department.
- For the president, vice president, and economic officials as they evaluate the electronic and technological threats posed by Chinese hardware and software.
Sources: Reuters, Automotive News
