US President Joe Biden has dealt a potentially devastating blow to China’s tottering economy by accusing China’s auto industry of posing a serious cyber risk to US national security. An impassioned speech from the President concerning the cyber threat posed by China comes only weeks after a similar warning from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concerning China’s plans to launch a cyber-attack on US national infrastructure.
“China is determined to dominate the future of the auto market, including by using unfair practices. China’s policies could flood our market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security. I’m not going to let that happen on my watch,” promises the President.
He also issued a warning to the world that the digital technology now being installed in Chinese cars can be used for purposes of cyber-espionage and even assassination.
“Most cars these days are ‘connected’ – they are like smartphones on wheels. These cars are connected to our phones, to navigation systems, to critical infrastructure, and to the companies that made them,” said the President, adding the Chinese are now busy weaponizing the IT common to modern cars.
“Connected vehicles from China could collect sensitive data about our citizens and our infrastructure and send this data back to the People’s Republic of China,” warns the President.
China can remotely access and disable its cars
He also raised the possibility that, in addition to becoming conduits for cyber-espionage, Chinese-made cars can also be used for assassination or other physically destructive purposes by being remotely accessed or disabled.
In an election year with his political rival Donald Trump gaining in the polls amongst blue-collar voters, Biden appears to have seized the moment and sworn to bring jobs back to the US auto industry while simultaneously safeguarding national security.
“China imposes restrictions on American autos and other foreign autos operating in China. Why should connected vehicles from China be allowed to operate in our country without safeguards?” asks the President.
Biden added: “As President I vowed to do right by auto workers and middle-class families that depend on the auto industry for jobs. With this and other actions, we’re going to make sure the future of the auto industry will be made here in America with American workers.”
