In a stark warning to consumers, Brandon Wales, the executive director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), has voiced grave concerns over the potential risks posed by technology manufactured in China. His comments underscore growing apprehensions among national security experts regarding the possibility of Chinese spying through electronic devices and other goods.
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U.S. Cybersecurity Chief Raises Alarm Over Chinese Tech, Citing Espionage Risks
Speaking to The Australian Financial Review, Wales did not mince words, asserting that “any time you are purchasing technology from a country that has, as its stated purpose, to burrow into U.S. critical infrastructure and hold it at risk, that technology is going to be inherently suspect.”
These remarks come in the wake of President Joe Biden’s recent directive to U.S. authorities to investigate the potential threats posed by electric vehicles manufactured in China, highlighting the administration’s heightened vigilance over the matter.
However, concerns over Chinese technology and the potential for espionage are not new. National security expert John Blaxland had previously sounded the alarm, stating that China was “in a league of its own” regarding data collection. “No matter what type of manufacturing is going on inside China, you can expect that data collected by those companies will be accessible by Chinese Communist Party authorities,” Blaxland warned in February 2023.
The issue extends beyond electronic gadgets and vehicles. Liberal Senator James Paterson cautioned that even motor vehicles manufactured in China could pose a risk, as the data gathered by these vehicles could potentially fall into the hands of Chinese intelligence agencies due to the country’s “intelligence law.”
This legislation, according to Paterson, “requires all Chinese companies and individuals to assist Chinese intelligence agencies and to keep that covert.” He urged caution, especially for public figures like politicians, journalists, activists, and academics working on China-related or national security issues, advising them to be “extra cautious about the Chinese technology devices that you use.”
The concerns raised by Wales, Blaxland, and Paterson reflect a growing unease within the U.S. and its allies regarding the potential for Chinese espionage through technology and the implications for national security. As the global technological landscape continues to evolve, the balancing act between embracing innovation and safeguarding sensitive information will undoubtedly remain a pressing challenge for governments and individuals alike.
