The U.S. has finalized new rules targeting Chinese and Russian automobile technology, effectively prohibiting personal smart cars from these countries from entering the U.S. market.
In a fact sheet released Tuesday (January 14), the Biden administration highlighted the security risks associated with foreign adversaries like China and Russia being involved in the supply chains of connected vehicles. While such vehicles offer significant benefits, the administration warned they could grant “malign actors unfettered access to these connected systems and the data they collect.”
“The Department of Commerce has issued a final rule that will prohibit the sale and import of connected vehicle hardware and software systems, as well as completed connected vehicles, from the PRC and Russia,” the White House fact sheet said.
The PRC, an acronym for the People’s Republic of China, is specifically named in the new rules targeting foreign smart car technology.
Connected vehicles, commonly referred to as smart cars, are designed to enhance convenience for consumers and improve safety for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. They achieve this through advanced connectivity features, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, and satellite integration.
The new rule represents the “culmination of a year-long examination” into the potential risks associated with connected vehicles and is intended to “help the United States defend against the PRC’s cyber espionage and intrusion operations, which continue to pose a significant threat to U.S. critical infrastructure and public safety.”
This crackdown on smart cars follows Washington’s recent announcement of proposed regulations to address risks posed by drones utilizing technology from China and Russia.
The U.S. has consistently stressed the importance of balancing technological advancement with safeguarding national security interests.
