WASHINGTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department is expected on Monday to propose prohibiting Chinese software and hardware in connected and autonomous vehicles on American roads due to national security concerns, two sources told Reuters.

The Biden administration has raised serious concerns about the collection of data by Chinese companies on U.S. drivers and infrastructure as well as the potential foreign manipulation of vehicles connected to the internet and navigation systems.

The proposed regulation would ban the import and sale of vehicles from China with key communications or automated driving system software or hardware, said the two sources, who declined to be identified because the decision had not been publicly disclosed.

The move is a significant escalation in the United States’ ongoing restrictions on Chinese vehicles, software and components. Last week, the Biden administration locked in steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including a 100% duty on electric vehicles as well as new hikes on EV batteries and key minerals.

  • SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    Did we all forget about the study from Mozilla on vehicle data collection?

    The fact of the matter is that every single new connected product is collecting data on anyone who uses it. Once the data is collected, it’s sold. Once it’s on the market, that data is used by every country. China will eventually get data on US drivers regardless of what make they drive, the US government just wants first dibs.
    I’m not one of those people who think that China and Russia are some kind of utopic ideal we should all be working towards. The US government is also not a shining beacon of ethics.

    • feannag
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      2 months ago

      Yeah, obviously it’s not the point, but I would love a ban on car data collection instead.

      • umami_wasabi@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        Given how much lobbying power the American automotive industry has, I don’t think that will ever happen.

        • superkret@feddit.org
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          2 months ago

          It’s weird how they charge you $40k for a car, which almost every American needs just to survive, sell your data in addition to that, and still need to be bailed out by the taxpayer regularly.

    • seang96@spgrn.com
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      2 months ago

      I want them to write an actual KOSA bill that would introduce privacy laws and would prevent this stuff. But nah it’s more like Kill Online Safety Act and do nothing about the real problems.

      • SturgiesYrFase@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        They probably would if they weren’t being payed by lobby groups not to. Or at least one would hope they would.

  • plz1@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    I wish they’d propose a mandate on having the option for disconnected vehicles sold in the US, instead. Privacy-conscious people should not have to resort to finding and disconnecting antennas to reclaim privacy from sketchy data collection. I get that China is the big bad wolf in this discussion, but American companies are just as bad with the data hoarding and erosion of privacy.

  • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    What about israeli tech tho? That’s the only civilian tech that I’ve seen used in terrorist attacks.

  • RobotToaster@mander.xyz
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    2 months ago

    Effectively just a ban on Chinese EV’s to protect American car companies that can’t keep up with them.

    • A7thStone@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      No! You don’t understand. It’s all about the scary CPC spying on you. Wholesome American, European, and Japanese corporations spying on you would never misuse that information.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      That’s not even on the table. The only thing Americans care about is the potential for Chinese surveillance. The potential for American surveillance and corporate surveillance (particularly for insurance companies) is considered a huge windfall that they’ll fight to continue.

      Hell, I can see a future in which your car won’t even start without an internet connection.

  • Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    Nice to know Chinese EVs will be the choice for privacy-minded individuals in the US soon. Being cheaper than western brands is a nice big fat cherry on top.

  • SkyNTP@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    How about we ban software in cars in general, beyond basic engine control.

    • feddylemmy@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      There’s plenty of useful software in cars: collision avoidance systems, automatic braking systems, pedestrian detection systems, etc. Personally I love android auto / carplay for my audio books for my commute.

  • pastermil
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    2 months ago

    They definitely got their priorities set straight.

  • Etterra@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    This has a fair reason. If war were to break out the Chinese government could, hypothetically, hijack, kill, or break all their cars in the country.

    • vfreire85@lemmy.ml
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      2 months ago

      then don’t go to war with china. people talk like the chinese would go attacking for no reason.