Electric cars threaten national security, defence chiefs warn.
"Concerns Beijing could eavesdrop on conversations using vehicles planned for ministerial and official use, report finds.
Electric cars pose a potential threat to national security as they are vulnerable to Chinese spying, according to an official defence assessment by the Government’s spy lab."
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.
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.”
There is no blanket ban on Chinese-made electric vehicles being purchased for the government fleet, despite concerns about potential spying.
There are some signs of changes inside Whitehall, however, with the i newspaper revealing on Wednesday that electric cars with Chinese components are now banned from sensitive military sites.
Luke de Pulford, the executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said: “Any device requiring remote software update is vulnerable to manipulation.
“The issue with Chinese electric vehicles is that Beijing’s regulations make it possible for the Chinese government to use this capability for ill. With China having already been accused of spying on a ministerial car, this is a risk we should not take.
“If we can only meet the 2027 target by purchasing Chinese electric vehicles, with attendant security risks, the policy needs a rethink. National security comes first.”
Charles Parton, an adviser to the Coalition of Secure Technology, which campaigns to raise awareness of the threat posed by technology produced by potentially hostile states, said about the government fleet: “Do not use a car that is Chinese. And do not use a car that has a Chinese cellular module.
“If you have ministers talking in the back of their cars then that information is vulnerable.”
A DfT spokesman said: “We remain committed to ensuring all central government car and van fleets are zero emission by the end of 2027”.
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