Chinese government bans the use of Tesla for public officials?

In the midst of a clash between the US and China, information came out that the Chinese government has banned the use of Tesla cars from soldiers, civil servants, and employees of state-owned enterprises dealing with state secret aircraft. According to reports, the Chinese government has tested Tesla vehicles from a national security standpoint and has caused several problems and has been forced to refrain from using them.

First, when, where, how, and other various data retrieval concerns. There is a concern that the camera will work and record a short video around it. There is a concern about leakage of smartphone contacts synchronized with the car system.

If this data goes to the US side, where Tesla’s headquarters are located, it could be a defense risk. The Chinese government notified relevant ministries to refrain from using them when going to work, and banned the operation of residential areas where the families of employees and civil servants from aircraft manufacturing companies dealing with state secrets live.

An electric vehicle with cameras and sensors connected all the time can be said to be a moving digital data storage system. Smartphones need to be locked, but there are also concerns that if the car is syncing, you can see your smartphone data cool without entering a password.

Not limited to Tesla vehicles, electric vehicles currently have a record of driving time and driving route speed, acceleration/deceleration, which doors are opened and closed or when and where lights are turned on, when and where lights are turned off, seat belts are installed, and even passengers Your weight is also stored in Telematics. In addition, infotainment also includes home and work addresses, stored addresses, GPS location information of frequently visited places, home phone numbers, call logs, contacts, SMS, emails and photos, videos, web browsing records, voice commands, social media feeds, and USB to car systems. I, smartphone usage data connected via Bluetooth, and garage door opening/closing passwords are stored, and if you doubt how the car handles such enormous data, it can be endless.

Tesla denies this by saying that all Tesla cars running in China do not always have their car cameras turned on. CEO Elon Musk, who appeared at an event in China not long ago, is trying to restore trust by saying that he will shut down Tesla if his vehicle is used for spying in China or any country.

In January and February, Tesla’s share of the Chinese electric vehicle market was 13%. Compared to the US’ Huawei 5G equipment embargo, the impact is insignificant, but there is a feeling that the close relationship between Tesla and China has rapidly cooled. In January, when 158,000 Tesla cars were recalled, an image of a model 3 fire spread in an underground parking lot in downtown Shanghai, China. After being struck by something on the floor and the battery was damaged, it was engulfed in flames. Safety-related complaints followed, and in February, the Chinese authorities requested a safety review. As for China, Tesla had to apologize for being unable to come out too strongly due to its production base in Shanghai.

China plans to convert the government and the Communist Party information system to 100% made in China by 2022. Not too long ago, Tencent and Alibaba are immediately testing the domestic voice SNS by excluding the clubhouse, and the electric vehicle market is also waiting for three major Chinese manufacturers, including NIO, XPEV, and LI. Related information can be found here.