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Poland warns Chinese smart cars pose espionage threat to EU security

18.12.2025 10:00
Chinese-made smart electric vehicles increasingly popular in Europe may pose a security threat to the European Union and Poland, a Polish think tank warned, citing risks of surveillance and sabotage.
File photo. A model stands next to the Avatr 11 electric vehicle made by Chinese automotive manufacturer Changan during the Gaikindo Jakarta Auto Week in Tangerang, Indonesia, 21 November 2025. The event runs from 21 to 30 November 2025.
File photo. A model stands next to the Avatr 11 electric vehicle made by Chinese automotive manufacturer Changan during the Gaikindo Jakarta Auto Week in Tangerang, Indonesia, 21 November 2025. The event runs from 21 to 30 November 2025. Photo: EPA/MAST IRHAM

According to a report by the state-funded Center for Eastern Studies (OSW), modern Chinese cars packed with sensors and cameras could be used to gather sensitive data and transmit it abroad—potentially to Beijing and indirectly to Moscow.

The vehicles' ability to map surroundings, including military bases and troop movements, could make them tools of espionage.

“Europe is being flooded with electric, ‘intelligent’ vehicles capable of collecting vast amounts of data,” Rzeczpospolita reported Thursday, summarizing the OSW’s findings. “This is not just transport—it’s a multi-sensory platform with national security implications.”

Tomasz Siemoniak, Poland’s special services coordinator, confirmed the government is taking the threat seriously, with the Foreign and Digital Affairs Ministries leading the response.

Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stressed the urgency of updating Poland’s National Cybersecurity System law to strengthen national cyber resilience.

The report also highlighted the potential for remote vehicle control, raising concerns over sabotage scenarios, including blocking strategic roadways.

(jh)

Source: PAP