Fears China will ‘use electric vehicles to spy on Britain’

Could electric cars be used for spying? Electric cars imported from China could be one way of Britain reaching “net zero” targets. But ministers have been warned it could open the door to spying on British citizens. From next year car companies will face targets for zero emissions sales ahead of a ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030. And, when the electric vehicle boost comes, China is predicted to dominate the UK market. However, Telegraph sources at the heart of government claim the technology embedded in the vehicles could be used to harvest information. This includes location data, audio recordings and video footage, while also being vulnerable to remote interference and even being disabled. And a cross-part group of MPs has warned the Government that Britain could give up “critical infrastructure” if Beijing moves into the car market. Electric cars will be more popular in years to come The net zero emissions target has emerged as a key battleground between the Conservatives and Labour. Some Tory MPs are urging Rishi Sunak to take a more cautious approach with a 2050 target. And with China now emerging as a global force in battery electric vehicles, the prospect of it flooding the UK market has led to concerns about possible security implications. A senior government source told The Telegraph: ‘If it is manufactured in a country like China, how certain can you be that it won’t be a vehicle for collecting intel and data? If you have electric vehicles manufactured by countries who are already using technology to spy, why would they not do the same here? ‘They are high-risk products. We know that China always thinks in very long terms. So if they were providing a product that could do more than just deliver the consumer’s desire to go from A to B, why would they not be doing it?’ The source added: ‘It will be used with all of the data that they collect, and that’s how it becomes incredibly valuable and quite dangerous.’ Electric car batteries are largely imported from Beijing SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Another minister reportedly said they were concerned about remote surveillance and interference. They added: “That is the world we’re going into.” In 2020, the Government banned the Chinese firm Huawei from the UK’s 5G networks, with a deadline for the company to strip out its existing kit by 2027. Former home secretary, Dame Priti Patel said Chinese surveillance in cars posed a similar issue. She said: “These are realistic risks. All we have to do is look at how government tied themselves up with things such as 5G.’ The concerns have become more prominant due to a Chinese boost in the EV market. Chris Stark the chief executive of the Climate Change Committee, an independent advisory body, said that while Germany was currently the biggest supplier of cars to the UK, ‘China is rapidly moving into second place and shows every sign of taking the top spot’. It is thought UK car manufacturers could also have to subsidise cheaper Chinese imported cars should they fail to make targets for phasing out petrol vehicles. Under the proposals, firms failing to meet targets will have to either pay fines or buy ‘credits’ from companies that exceed the target – which are expected to be from China. Trending