Drivers have been warned by the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) that smart features in modern vehicles, including microphones, cameras, and GPS, could be exploited by state actors for espionage. The agency highlighted the risk of remote activation of listening devices and data extraction from connected phones, adding to existing concerns about Chinese car imports.
The increasing integration of smart technology in vehicles presents potential national security risks, as data collection and remote access capabilities could be exploited by state actors for surveillance, impacting individuals and sensitive organizations.
Drivers have been alerted to the potential for modern car technology to be used for espionage by hostile states, according to a warning from the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD). The agency highlighted that features such as microphones, cameras, and GPS trackers, which are increasingly integrated into vehicles, could be exploited.
The AIVD stated in a translated document released on Wednesday that these digital systems collect substantial data about occupants, the vehicle, and its surroundings, which could be accessed by various parties, including state actors. It specifically noted the technical possibility of remotely activating microphones and cameras to eavesdrop on conversations and make recordings in and around the vehicle.
Connecting personal devices like smartphones via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or charging systems could also lead to the extraction of sensitive data. The agency advised drivers against holding confidential conversations in or around their vehicles and cautioned against using cars with external cameras when traveling to sensitive locations.
The warning comes amid a significant increase in Chinese car imports into the UK. Chinese-owned brands now constitute 15% of all new car registrations, with nearly 175,000 vehicles sold in the first half of 2026, more than doubling from the previous year. Brands like MG, BYD, and Jaecoo, the latter's parent company Chery being partly state-owned by China, have driven this surge, often cited for their affordability and advanced in-car technology.
Concerns have been amplified by the fact that China's national intelligence law reportedly requires its companies to cooperate with state intelligence services. Last year, reports indicated that British defense firms working for the UK government had advised staff to avoid connecting their phones to Chinese-made electric cars due to fears of sensitive data extraction. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has acknowledged working with other government departments to identify and mitigate potential national security threats posed by vehicles, and has reportedly banned cars with Chinese parts from sensitive military sites.
Separately, the UK's domestic security service, MI5, recently issued a rare public warning to universities about a research institute allegedly used by Beijing's intelligence services to acquire academic research and steal secrets. The Chinese embassy in London has strongly refuted these allegations, calling them "imaginary and purely fabricated."
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