{
  "id": 2402217,
  "title": "US government lab is probing Chinese lidar for security vulnerabilities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/us-government-lab-is-probing-chinese-lidar-for-security",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-21T16:01:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechCrunch",
    "slug": "techcrunch",
    "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/21/us-government-lab-is-probing-chinese-lidar-for-security-vulnerabilities/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Idaho National Laboratory is examining whether Chinese lidar sensors could pose a security risk if adopted widely by vehicles in the United States, according to reports. Funded by companies in the electric and autonomous vehicle industries, the lab's review aims to identify potential vulnerabilities in Chinese-made lidar technology. While the specific companies involved have not commented, Senator Tammy Baldwin and Congressman John Moolenaar have voiced concerns over the potential for Chinese lidar to be used for military or industrial espionage. Omer Keilaf, CEO of Israeli lidar company Innoviz, highlighted two main cybersecurity risks: the potential for widespread sensor disablement and the risk of transmitting detailed data collected by lidar to China. The cost of lidar has dropped significantly in recent years, making Chinese suppliers a more attractive option for U.S. companies. As a result, several automakers are considering using Chinese lidar sensors, with Rivian reportedly exploring the possibility of developing its own sensors in the U.S. to reduce reliance on Chinese technology.",
  "summary": "The security review is being performed by the Idaho National Laboratory, and the research is being funded by a company -- or a group of companies -- in the electric and autonomous vehicle industries.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Techmeme",
        "title": "Sources: US Department of Energy is investigating whether Chinese lidar sensors might pose a security risk if they become widely used on vehicles in the US (Sean O'Kane/TechCrunch)",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/sources-us-department-of-energy-is-investigating-whether-chinese",
        "published": "2026-08-21T16:55:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}