With the help of cameras, sensors and GPS, among other things, modern, connected cars collect large amounts of information.
American authorities will now investigate whether this constitutes a security risk, reports Reuters.
Special focus will be on connected cars from China.
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Collects data about drivers and passengers
According to the White House, the cars collect “large amounts of sensitive data about their drivers and passengers”.
It is also said that the cars, with their cameras and sensors, collect detailed information about American infrastructure. Because the cars are connected to the network, the manufacturers can collect large amounts of data wirelessly.
When it comes to self-driving cars, which are already rolling in several US states, there are also concerns. In that case, it is mainly about the risk that someone can take control of or shut down the cars.
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No restrictions at present
There are currently no restrictions on the type of data that can be collected.
The organization Alliance of Automotive Innovation, which represents virtually every major car manufacturer in the United States — such as Volkswagen, Toyota and GM — has expressed the importance of working closely with car manufacturers when developing possible measures.
The organization urges authorities to focus on transactions that pose an “undue risk to US economic and national security”.
On the other hand, they want the authorities to avoid “capturing low-risk transactions that may have unintended short-term consequences for advanced vehicle security systems”.
In the EU, no similar investigations are currently carried out. However, an inquiry has been set up to find out whether Chinese cars are competing against Western brands on unfair terms.
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