Modern cars are packed with internet-connected widgets, many of them containing Chinese technology. Now, the car industry is scrambling to root out that tech ahead of a looming deadline, a test case for America’s ability to decouple from Chinese supply chains.
New U.S. rules will soon ban Chinese software in vehicle systems that connect to the cloud, part of an effort to prevent cameras, microphones and GPS tracking in cars from being exploited by foreign adversaries.
The move is “one of the most consequential and complex auto regulations in decades,” according to Hilary Cain, head of policy at trade group the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. “It requires a deep examination of supply chains and aggressive compliance timelines.”
Carmakers will need to attest to the U.S. government that, as of March 17, core elements of their products don’t contain code that was written in China or by a Chinese company. The rule also covers software for advanced autonomous driving and will be extended to connectivity hardware starting in 2029. Connected cars made by Chinese or China-controlled companies are also banned, wherever their software comes from.
Remember when they ran ads suggesting that if independent mechanics had access to the car’s software that it would result in stalking and assault? Remember when they said the only way to keep people safe is to protect that data by only using “qualified” mechanic shops (aka dealers)?
Turns out all of that was a lie. Total shocker, I know.
I remember. Massachusetts had a right-to-repair ballot question a few years ago. Auto manufacturers and dealers went HARD with that line.
Meanwhile, nobody asking “wait why is the car storing all that data in the first place?”
If we had a functioning regulatory framework in this country there would have been a law passed somewhere around 2010 restricting the kinds of data collected and how long it could be stored. Instead we have data brokers selling data to cops outside fourth amendment protection and it’s totally fine because people “agreed” to have their data collected and sold on the open market.
“wait why is the car storing all that data in the first place?”
I’ll bite. In the 1980s, AUDI/VW was sued for “sudden acceleration”, which was Americans mashing the gas pedal by mistake. Then it was Toyota in 2019, but they proved with data black boxes that the crying Karens on TV were lying. But, not all Toyotas had black boxes and they still paid out $1B in settlements. Same thing with Tesla, but those lawsuits ended quickly when data showed driver fault.
Amazingly, while these cars were sold worldwide, only one country reported “sudden acceleration”. Now people are trying to sue for FSD crashes and again, Tesla data revealed improper use of FSD.
People are making expensive warranty claims after abusing their vehicles.
So, if you are a large automaker, and you aren’t collecting data, you will be sued for a phantom in your cars by America’s massive industry of ambulance chasers. Literally billions of dollars are spent on frivolous auto lawsuits.
That’s cool and all but they don’t need more than 30 seconds of sensor data to get what they need. Not storing days or weeks (or more, who knows?) of location data.
nobody asking “wait why is the car storing all that data in the first place?”
<Louis Rossman enters the chat>
I want to be shocked, but gestures to the world, that these transparent attempts to control the market by limited consumer choices were not immediately responded to by the responsible regulatory systems that we have setup.
Maybe once the Fascists are gone we can replace the smoking hole that is the US government with something more akin to the fairy tales that we were told in class.
jk, new dark ages coming right up
New U.S. rules will soon ban Chinese software in vehicle systems that connect to the cloud
Seems to me that the easiest way to get into compliance would be to not make the car connect to the cloud/internet.
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omg a firewall?! IN THIS ECONOMY?!
Why should I care when the US government doesn’t give a shit about protecting me from US companies?
Because every single foreign government hacks every other foreign government every single chance they get. If I get any say in the matter I’d rather keep my list of enemies as small as possible(aka only the US government). Most rational people would agree with that. At least you have some say in accountability for the US government, in theory at least.
I feel like every time this topic comes up people forget all of this and also forget that China’s energy, automotive, literally every industry in China is controlled by PRC/CCP, 100%. Even the US/China joint ventures have to follow rules laid out by the PRC/CCP.
At least you have some say in accountability for the US government, in theory at least.
Where is your evidence of this?
Should be illegal for cars to have internet connections or to phone home.
Best part is companies like Toyota also charging you to use the network connection they use to spy on you.
There are useful things about internet connections and phone home. Maybe not for you, but for many.
For company vehicles when the car is due for an oil change the mechanics should be informed not the driver. Likewise the company should be able to track where their cars are and when they are driving (and restrict them from driving outside of their territory). For things like snow plows the company needs to track where they have plowed already.
When it is cold it is nice to tell the car to start warming up 5 minutes before you get into it. For electric cars that are currently plugged in this is important as it lets you spend grid energy to warm up the car instead of range.
It is also useful to have up to date maps on the car - there are things a built in system can do that android auto / apple carplay cannot do. Though you have to drive a lot for this to be worth it. (My car as GM’s onstar and no android auto - I don’t pay for it, but I could see in a 10 minute test drive how onstar is better if you are driving the car for hours every day - since I mostly work from home or bike it isn’t worth it, but I can see how it is better despite not being better)
But there needs to be a non-charge option for things like remote start.
There should be an option to turn it all off for those who don’t want to be spied on though.
I don’t believe for a second that a company fleet service is just free as-is through toyota. For that to be centrally managed they must have an enterprise service level that they have to pay for.
Toyota reports your driving information to your insurance nowadays using their built-in spyware that you cannot disable. Buddy driving your car recklessly? Too bad, you’re a dangerous driver now and your rates go up.
part of an effort to prevent cameras, microphones and GPS tracking in cars from being exploited by foreign adversaries.
Translation: our government hates competition
https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/the-car-industry-is-racing-to-replace-chinese-code-6b939e1f
Here is the original article. MSN is a cancer
