Electric cars pose a potential threat to national security as they are vulnerable to Chinese spying, an official defence assessment by the Government’s spy lab has warned. The Telegraph has more.
A report by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) found that there were concerns Beijing – which dominates the market – could effectively eavesdrop on conversations using the vehicles, which are to be introduced for all ministers and officials by the end of 2027.
The warning in the report, which was delivered to the previous Tory government, contributed to fears at senior levels in Rishi Sunak’s administration that electric cars were “basically mobile spying platforms” and even those made in the West using Chinese parts were susceptible.
The concerns were raised amid the government fleet going green, given China’s dominance in electric vehicles.
Fears of Chinese spying were sufficiently high that the DSTL, an executive agency of the Ministry of Defence, was commissioned to look at so-called “connected vehicles” and whether they were vulnerable to spying by Beijing.
All electric vehicles are deemed to be “connected”, meaning that data and information are sent out beyond the vehicle, sometimes over the internet. Increasingly, petrol and diesel cars are also “connected”.
It is understood the first assessment from the defence scientists flagged broad concerns that electric vehicles and other connected cars could be used by the Chinese state to spy.
A second, more detailed examination was then commissioned by the Sunak government. That report had not been returned when the snap General Election was called for July 2024, leading to the Tories being removed from office.
One source in the Sunak government close to the conversations called it an “oh s—” moment when the implications of the government’s electronic vehicle push were realised.
The source said: “They are basically mobile spying platforms. The array of data you can pick up from these things is extraordinary, particularly conversations that happened in the car.”
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