Why the United States wants to ban Chinese software on cars

President Joe Biden’s administration announced an initiative to ban software developed in China in the automobiles who can connect to the Internet in USA .

At a press conference held on Sunday, September 22, officials reported that The proposal is due to concerns in the area of security national .

The objective is prevent the Asian country’s intelligence agencies from obtaining information on the movements of Americans or use vehicle electronics to access the power grid or other relevant infrastructure.

The initiative was presented by the Ministry of Commerce and, according to statements retrieved by the New York Times , could become a permanent rule before the president leaves the White House .

It is good to remember that Biden will end his term on January 20 of 2025.

Previously, had already announced 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles on the grounds that they were largely subsidized in the Asian country and that the measure would help maintain employment in the United States.

His administration’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, warned during Sunday’s briefing that “many of them technologies They collect large amounts of information from drivers” .

He thus referred to the fact that The software typically connects to personal devices (such as cell phones), as well as other cars and critical infrastructure. .

“And that’s why connected vehicles and the technology they use bring with them new vulnerabilities and threats, particularly in the case of vehicles or components developed in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and other countries of interest,” Sullivan emphasized.

According to US intelligence officials and the FBI, there is a project called Volt Typhoon through which China seeks to insert code into critical systems such as energy and water pipes among others.

They assume that if there is a moment of crisis involving the Asian country, They could use it to affect US military bases according to the aforementioned newspaper.

This would slow down your response faced with an episode such as, for example, a direct attack by China against Taiwan.

On previous occasions, President Biden himself has stated that The United States would react to this scenario which is threatened by constant military exercises by Chinese forces in the South China Sea.

Initiatives aimed at addressing the risks that could arise from China’s activities are one of the few to have gained the support of both the Democratic and Republican parties .

However, several Chinese developers and experts believe their measures have been exceeded and that they also harm American consumers.

Analysts consulted by the Times said that whoever wins the November presidential election, The United States will likely continue to announce more restrictions on products of Chinese origin, such as chips or software systems. .

The executive director of the think tank Center for a New American Security (CNAS), Richard Fontaine, declared that “policymakers of all sides are increasingly concerned about the national security risks posed by Chinese technology “.

“Especially when Iimagine what could happen in the event of a confrontation “added the author also of the book Lost Decade: America’s Pivot to Asia and the Rise of Chinese Power (Oxford University Press, 2024).

The initiative presented by the Biden administration also offers to include software of Russian origin . However, the said country hardly produces anything that could be banned under this rule.

Brad Setser, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the aforementioned media outlets that “precedent is important and I think reflects the complexity of a world in which many connected devices can become weapons “.

“Security competition and rivalry between the United States and China is growing. SO, It is certainly possible that this precedent will develop over time. “, he added.

Peter Harrell, former senior director for international economics at the National Security Council, suggested that Drones made in China should also be evaluated because they could present security and surveillance risks.

“This should open the door, within several years, to a much broader set of government actions “, he said.

And while he is skeptical that the Biden administration will be able to take more action in the remaining months of his term, he said: The United States “will likely see a continuation of this situation under (Donald) Trump or (Kamala) Harris” .

Former president and current vice president They are campaigning for the November elections .

The proposed measure to ban software of Chinese origin considers all wheeled vehicles traveling on the road like cars, trucks and buses.

However, excludes those who do not use public roads such as those used in industries such as mining or agriculture.

They believe that banning software of Chinese or Russian origin on connected and autonomous vehicles would come into force in 2027 and this, furthermore, would ban hardware integrated into vehicle connectivity systems from 2030.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that while few vehicles with these features are currently operating in the country, they are taking steps to “protect the American people, including our children, from possible surveillance” .

He also warned that Chinese software installed in Internet-connected vehicles make it easier to collect data about drivers, such as where they live and the places they frequent .

At the same time, he clarified that In an extreme situation, they could take control of the cars and affect their proper functioning. .

“It is not about commercial or economic advantages, but about a strictly national security action Raimondo pointed out.