Fears mount China may management buses and automobiles in Britain | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Officials on the Department for Transport are investigating whether or not Chinese-made buses and automobiles might be remotely stopped of their tracks. There is mounting concern that autos might be fitted with “kill switches” that would render them inoperative. The Government is trying into stories {that a} Chinese-manufactured bus in Norway was fitted with software program and a SIM card which it’s claimed would have allowed the producer to cease it working.

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden accused the Prime Minister of being “asleep at the wheel” when it got here to the risk to the nation’s transport community.

He mentioned: “This raises serious national security questions. We cannot allow parts of Britain’s transport network to become dependent on Chinese-built vehicles that could contain surveillance capabilities or cyber vulnerabilities.

“There have already been credible reports about remote access and so-called ‘kill switches’ in connected vehicles. Combined with access to critical transport infrastructure, the risks cannot simply be brushed aside.

“Keir Starmer is asleep at the wheel while Chinese tech rolls straight into Britain’s transport system, sleepwalking into yet another national security problem. Ministers must urgently review these contracts, properly investigate the risks, and ensure British passengers, data and infrastructure are protected.”

Former Conservative defence minister Tobias Ellwood warned: “The concept of digital kill switches is well known but is likely to pose an ever greater threat as global tensions rise. Any Chinese made product or service must come with guarantees such software is not included with significant fines imposed if it’s found to exist.”

Transport Simon Lightwood confirmed that officers are investigating the stories.

He mentioned: “The Government takes national security extremely seriously and recognises the systemic challenges of increased connectivity and the cyber security implications for almost every area of government policy, including electric buses. The Department works closely with the transport sector and other government department to understand and respond to cyber vulnerabilities for all transport modes.”

The minister mentioned nationwide safety powers enable the Government to “exclude suppliers from public sector procurement, terminate their contracts and debar them from future ones”.

It was reported final yr that “rogue communication devices” had been present in tools at photo voltaic farms within the United States, fuelling fears that Beijing may have the ability to set off blackouts.

Reuters reported that units had been present in some Chinese solar energy “inverters” that are used to attach panels to electrical energy grids.

A supply advised the information company: “That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid.”