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submitted 8 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/news@lemmy.world

Citing potential national security risks, the Biden administration says it will investigate Chinese-made “smart cars” that can gather sensitive information about Americans driving them.

The probe could lead to new regulations aimed at preventing China from using sophisticated technology in electric vehicles and other so-called connected vehicles to track drivers and their personal information. Officials are concerned that features such as driver assistance technology could be used to effectively spy on Americans.

While the action stops short of a ban on Chinese imports, President Joe Biden said he is taking unprecedented steps to safeguard Americans’ data.

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[-] Bbbbbbbbbbb@lemmy.world 50 points 8 months ago

So if china has tech that effectively tracks our movements and personal information, can we investigate ford, GM, nissan, and other manufacturers for the same thing? Or is it just china.

[-] just2look@lemm.ee 33 points 8 months ago

Don’t even need to do an investigation. If you read Mozilla’s auto manufacturer privacy report, auto makers openly admit to spying on everyone to a repulsive degree. And then sell all that info to anyone they want with no way to opt out, well other than buying an older car without any connectivity.

[-] guyrocket@kbin.social 6 points 8 months ago

Yeah.
It's OK for us Americans to fuck each other in the ass. But NO Chinese ass fucking allowed!

[-] Neato@ttrpg.network 10 points 8 months ago

Government isn't worried about your privacy. They are worried about national security. Another country being able to track diplomats, generals, other high value targets for kidnapping or espianoge.

[-] afraid_of_zombies@lemmy.world 15 points 8 months ago

I swear to Satan if I ever buy a new car I am ripping out anything that even resembles something that can broadcast. I want a fucking clock and a fucking fm radio and nothing else smart!

[-] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 10 points 8 months ago

Good luck. Everything these days is touchscreen with no actual buttons. I disable Bluetooth and never connect, but the car still gets online somehow

[-] aniki@lemm.ee 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Because it has it's own cellular modem. You need to pull the fuse.

[-] muntedcrocodile@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

Be carful some cars will just brick themselves if u do that.

[-] aniki@lemm.ee -1 points 8 months ago

No they won't

[-] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 14 points 8 months ago

ITT: A ton of people who know nothing about Chinese-made EVs and are crying about issues they don't understand.

  • Chinese cars are not made to the safety standards required by the US.

  • Most Chinese car manufacturers are subsidized by the Chinese government, meaning they have their hands directly in the process.

  • The Chinese government would use the leverage of cheaper cars to destroy domestic US production with their cheap, garbage cars.

  • The Chinese government would load these cars with spyware and viruses to steal information from US companies, citizens, and US government employees.

China does not act in good faith and cannot be trusted.

[-] endhits@lemmy.world 12 points 8 months ago

Chinese cars are not made to the safety standards required by the US.

Valid concern

Most Chinese car manufacturers are subsidized by the Chinese government, meaning they have their hands directly in the process.

Yes, the state has a large part in the Chinese economy. Why is this an issue, when corporate control of production is also not good in the US?

The Chinese government would use the leverage of cheaper cars to destroy domestic US production with their cheap, garbage cars.

American cars, by and large, are terrible. Fords and FCA products especially are unreliable junk. If you want good, reliable, quality vehicles, you go Japanese, not American. I went to school to be a mechanic and work in the automotive industry. I seriously doubt China could make a worse transmission than the last gen focuses, or a worse engine than the 1.5l Ecoboost.

The Chinese government would load these cars with spyware and viruses to steal information from US companies, citizens, and US government employees.

American companies do the same stuff for advertising purposes.

[-] victron@programming.dev 11 points 8 months ago

The American gov just don't want China to beat them at their game lol

[-] guacupado@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Most Chinese car manufacturers are subsidized by the Chinese government, meaning they have their hands directly in the process.

This is a weird argument considering half of our car companies wouldn't be around if the government didn't give them money.

[-] FenrirIII@lemmy.world -2 points 8 months ago

Yes, the state has a large part in the Chinese economy. Why is this an issue, when corporate control of production is also not good in the US?

Allowing a hostile foreign government to take over our transportation industry is really dumb. They could just as easily raise all the prices, brick cars, refuse to repair, or worse. Corporations suck, but China is an actual threat to the entire country.

American cars, by and large, are terrible. Fords and FCA products especially are unreliable junk. If you want good, reliable, quality vehicles, you go Japanese, not American. I went to school to be a mechanic and work in the automotive industry. I seriously doubt China could make a worse transmission than the last gen focuses, or a worse engine than the 1.5l Ecoboost.

Your broad, sweeping statement is just your opinion and applied as if it were fact. You even agreed with my first point about their cars lacking safety requirements. "Made in China" is a joke. What 'school' did you go to to become a mechanic?

American companies do the same stuff for advertising purposes.

Whataboutism is a losing argument. I'd rather get targeted ads than death threats or secret police from the Chinese government. Consider how much IP they steal every year, then give them blackmail content and knowledge to hack passwords. No one would be safe.

None of your points have sufficient evidence or weight to even consider them. China cannot be trusted and would destroy the US if it could.

[-] endhits@lemmy.world 0 points 8 months ago

Allowing a hostile foreign government to take over our transportation industry is really dumb.

Would you apply the same logic if China banned Buicks, which are popular there?

They could just as easily raise all the prices, brick cars, refuse to repair, or worse.

You mean like John Deere, an American company?

Your broad, sweeping statement is just your opinion and applied as if it were fact.

No, this is demonstrable fact. There's a reason Ford has gotten class action lawsuits (plural) about their horrendous vehicles.

What 'school' did you go to to become a mechanic?

I went to a local community college and technical school. Why is this relevant? Do you want a photo of my associate's?

Whataboutism is a losing argument. I'd rather get targeted ads than death threats or secret police from the Chinese government.

This is just red scare 2.0 nonsense. It's okay when your guys do it, just not the scary scary Chinese.

Consider how much IP they steal every year

Good.

None of your points have sufficient evidence or weight to even consider them. China cannot be trusted and would destroy the US if it could.

And the US wants to do the same to China, or every other country that doesn't bend over for it. The US is not the good guy.

[-] mctoasterson@reddthat.com 5 points 8 months ago

All that stuff is legit and China does suck. Simultaneously we need a concerted effort to stop US car companies from farming our data. We basically need FOSS car systems.

[-] octopus_ink@lemmy.ml -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Uh huh.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/fear-cheap-chinese-evs-spurs-automaker-dash-affordable-cars-2023-12-08/

"Hey Biden, it sure would be a shame if those affordable electric cars posed a security risk. Here's some campaign money."

But don't look behind the curtain!

https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/6/23861047/car-user-privacy-report-mozilla-foundation-data-collection

[-] Erasmus@lemmy.world -1 points 8 months ago

I smell bullshit.

Sounds like someone(s) getting paid off to keep inexpensive EVs out of the hands of Americans.

[-] Infinity187@lemm.ee 10 points 8 months ago

China has been caught red-handed, on numerous occasions, using spyware built into tech that comes from that country. No bullshit. Fuck China.

[-] Erasmus@lemmy.world 10 points 8 months ago

And the vehicle makers (or hell - any manufacturers of anything) haven’t?

I’m perfectly fine with the fuck China mentality but the US needs to get over the fuck the consumer / fuck its citizen mentality. Much of that is driven too often by our politicians who are getting their pockets greased by these asshole corporations.

[-] Infinity187@lemm.ee 5 points 8 months ago

I agree with you 100%

This is the end game of capitalism, and it sucks.

this post was submitted on 29 Feb 2024
163 points (98.2% liked)

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