Media Reports Suggest US May Prohibit Russian and Chinese Car Software
According to media reports, Washington is contemplating imposing restrictions on software from China and Russia used in connected vehicles. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Government sources have indicated that the intended move aims to address national security concerns surrounding data collection.
The US Commerce Department is considering implementing restrictions on the use of software from China and Russia in so-called connected vehicles—cars equipped with internet access, cloud services, or navigation systems. Reports from Reuters and Bloomberg, citing government sources this past weekend, suggest that the announcement of the ban could occur as early as Monday.
Many modern vehicles can be classified as connected due to their onboard network hardware that facilitates internet access and data sharing with both interior and exterior devices. US officials reportedly view connected vehicles as potential candidates for hacking, particularly through the interception of communications with software systems. The proposed ban is expected to limit the abilities of China and Russia to hack or monitor these cars.
While the measure will reportedly focus mainly on software, it is also expected to include some restrictions on hardware manufactured in China and Russia. Additionally, the regulations are said to apply to autonomous vehicles.
Two sources informed Reuters that the regulation will impose a complete prohibition on the import and sale of any vehicles from China that contain communications or automated driving system software or hardware.
This development follows a probe initiated earlier this year by President Joe Biden, who directed the Commerce Department to investigate the potential national security risks associated with Chinese vehicle imports. The White House pointed out that connected vehicles “collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers and regularly use their cameras and sensors to record detailed information on US infrastructure.”
Though the investigation's findings have yet to be publicly disclosed, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized in May that the risks linked to foreign software and hardware in connected vehicles are substantial. “You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled,” she stated.
Reportedly, the Commerce Department is set to announce the new ban on Monday, but will allow a 30-day period for public comments before finalizing the regulations.
This news arrives just over a week after Washington increased tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese imports, targeting items like electric vehicles and semiconductors. Tariffs on certain goods were raised to 100%, prompting strong criticism from Beijing, which labeled the measures as a “form of bullying.” In response to the Ukraine conflict, Washington has also placed sanctions on numerous goods from Russia, which Moscow has condemned as illegal and countered with its own set of restrictions.
For more stories on economy & finance, visit RT's business section.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
The US Commerce Department is considering implementing restrictions on the use of software from China and Russia in so-called connected vehicles—cars equipped with internet access, cloud services, or navigation systems. Reports from Reuters and Bloomberg, citing government sources this past weekend, suggest that the announcement of the ban could occur as early as Monday.
Many modern vehicles can be classified as connected due to their onboard network hardware that facilitates internet access and data sharing with both interior and exterior devices. US officials reportedly view connected vehicles as potential candidates for hacking, particularly through the interception of communications with software systems. The proposed ban is expected to limit the abilities of China and Russia to hack or monitor these cars.
While the measure will reportedly focus mainly on software, it is also expected to include some restrictions on hardware manufactured in China and Russia. Additionally, the regulations are said to apply to autonomous vehicles.
Two sources informed Reuters that the regulation will impose a complete prohibition on the import and sale of any vehicles from China that contain communications or automated driving system software or hardware.
This development follows a probe initiated earlier this year by President Joe Biden, who directed the Commerce Department to investigate the potential national security risks associated with Chinese vehicle imports. The White House pointed out that connected vehicles “collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers and regularly use their cameras and sensors to record detailed information on US infrastructure.”
Though the investigation's findings have yet to be publicly disclosed, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized in May that the risks linked to foreign software and hardware in connected vehicles are substantial. “You can imagine the most catastrophic outcome theoretically if you had a couple million cars on the road and the software were disabled,” she stated.
Reportedly, the Commerce Department is set to announce the new ban on Monday, but will allow a 30-day period for public comments before finalizing the regulations.
This news arrives just over a week after Washington increased tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese imports, targeting items like electric vehicles and semiconductors. Tariffs on certain goods were raised to 100%, prompting strong criticism from Beijing, which labeled the measures as a “form of bullying.” In response to the Ukraine conflict, Washington has also placed sanctions on numerous goods from Russia, which Moscow has condemned as illegal and countered with its own set of restrictions.
For more stories on economy & finance, visit RT's business section.
Jessica Kline for TROIB News
