Did Chinese cars squeal on Norway's military?
OSLO: Chinese-made cars filmed sensitive information during a Norwegian military exercise, including access codes at secure sites and officials’ comings and goings, raising concerns about the risks posed by connected vehicles.
Norwegian military discovered sensitive information on Chinese-made rental vehicles during a security exercise at Oslo airport. The recordings revealed access codes to secure sites, officials' movements, and routes taken by the vehicles. The videos originated from rental cars, specifically two Deepal brand cars produced by Chinese state-controlled automaker Changan.
The vehicles were provided by Hertz Norge, which is indirectly owned by the Chinese auto group Geely. Norwegian Home Guard spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Per Gunnar Grosberghaugen confirmed the recordings were found on the vehicles' sensors. It is unclear if the recordings were shared with a third party, particularly in China. The military continued to use the vehicles until the end of the exercise despite the leaks due to a lack of alternatives and the soldiers' deletion of the videos.
The case highlights the risks posed by connected vehicles, as European armies strive to protect against espionage and hybrid threats. Hertz Norge stated that they comply with Norwegian and European regulations and do not share customers' data with car manufacturers, owners, or third parties without explicit legal grounds. Changan group did not respond to AFP's inquiries.
Modern vehicles, smartwatches, and fitness apps like Strava can also expose sensitive military information. Norway's National Security Authority warned against excessive dependence on a single country, emphasizing the potential vulnerability if that country does not cooperate on security matters.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
