A Looming Threat to UK Security? Exploring the Potential Risks and the Need for Urgent Action

A Potential Threat to UK Security?

A former MI6 chief and a leading academic have raised concerns about the potential security risks posed by Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK. They argue that Beijing could use these vehicles to disrupt or even cripple UK cities in the event of a tense international crisis.

Sir Richard Dearlove, who led MI6 from 1999 to 2004, believes that China could remotely disable hundreds of Chinese EVs in London, effectively shutting down the city's traffic. He argues that this possibility should be taken seriously and that the UK should consider banning the import of Chinese EVs as a national security measure.

Jim Saker, a green car expert from Loughborough University, agrees with Dearlove's assessment. He points out that Chinese EVs are equipped with cellular modules that can be remotely controlled, allowing anyone with access to direct them. He compares the threat to the Hezbollah pagers interfered with by the Israeli intelligence service Mossad before they were blown up in Lebanon, claiming that Chinese EVs could pose a far greater danger to Britain.

Saker also raises concerns about "Chinese bits of kit" built into UK traffic lights, which he believes could be used by Beijing to shut down the UK's road network. He warns that these traffic lights could be hacked and turned red, effectively paralyzing the country's transportation system.

Labour MP Graeme Downie, who chairs the Coalition on Secure Technology, shares Saker's concerns. He emphasizes the importance of considering the national security risks associated with Chinese technology, both in civilian and military use. While he stops short of calling for a ban on Chinese EVs, he urges the government to carefully assess the potential threats posed by these vehicles.

The UK government has responded to these concerns by stating that electric cars and traffic lights in the UK are built to high safety standards and have robust cyber security measures in place to prevent hacking. However, the concerns raised by Dearlove, Saker, and Downie highlight the potential vulnerabilities of the UK's infrastructure to cyberattacks and the need for continued vigilance in protecting critical systems from foreign interference.