UK warns government employees of spying cars
In a recent move to improve its CO2 footprint, the UK government loaned hundreds of electric vehicles from China for their top staff in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and other government organisations. However, some believe these vehicles supplied by China might be bugged with secret microphones to listen in on top-secret discussions, as the Daily Mail and Sun write. These publications have been accused of tabloid-style writing and spreading of misinformation before, however, so the news should be taken with a grain of salt.
An unnamed MoD source said that there is a danger of these cars listening in on drivers and passengers: “It’s crazy. A lot of these electric cars are used by senior officers, who know a lot of secrets.” The Ministry of Defense has responded to the allegation, with a spokesperson saying: “We have strict security procedures in place to ensure sensitive information is protected.”
According to the media reports, the MoD currently has 745 electric vehicles and 1,414 hybrid vehicles in its fleet. However, it also can be assumed that top spies will likely not be talking about sensitive material in public or reading nuclear launch codes out loud. MSN , for example, takes a more careful approach and writes that “some believe these vehicles supplied by China might be bugged with secret microphones to listen in on top secret discussions. One source claimed workers will often discuss their work while being driven around.”
The US effectively banned connected cars from China earlier this year, also citing a potential data-collection risk that the Chinese government could be doing via its vehicles. A particular focus was set on software, as Washington feared that using software from China could pose a security risk.
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