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Why They Don’t Want You Driving a Chinese Car (www.currentaffairs.org)
submitted 5 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Why They Don’t Want You Driving a Chinese Car

I took my first ride in a Chinese car recently. Not in the U.S., of course, since sky-high tariffs have made them almost impossible to import. I was visiting family in the U.K., and we rented a BYD Sealion SUV. And let me tell you: I saw immediately why American car companies are desperate to have these things kept out of this country. It was elegantly designed, incredibly comfortable, and a smooth ride.

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[–] 74 points 5 months ago (17 children)

It's worth looking into how much data modern US cars are gathering as well, if you're concerned with that. Frankly, it seems like you're just deciding who gets your data at a certain point.

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  • [–] 54 points 5 months ago (9 children)

    As a Canadian who holds negative views of both the American and Chinese governments, I think to myself: which am I more likely to visit someday and will therefore have the opportunity to stick me in an ICE detention center when they look up my profile to discover that? Which of the two governments is a more direct threat to my own country's security and sovereignty?

    I get an answer that would perhaps surprise Americans.

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  • [–] 16 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    I think to myself: which am I more likely to visit someday

    At this point I wouldn't be surprised if the answer was China for quite a few people.

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  • [–] 6 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    It's mainly a question of proximity. The United States is right next door, China is across the Pacific. And I'm not really in a business where I'd need to travel there for professional reasons either.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago

    Fair enough.

    Personally I don't have any reason to travel to China either, but at the same time, it's never impossible that one day I'll have a contract with some Chinese company for an example. The US, however, I'm going to avoid for at least the next 2.5 years still. Potentially for the rest of my life if they don't sort their shit out. I can afford to, since I don't live right next to them.

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  • [–] -2 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    Your answer is China? That is really surprising.

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  • [–] 22 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    America has threatened to forcibly annex Canada. China has not. So yeah. China's certainly got its problems, but I don't feel as personally or nationally threatened by them.

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  • [–] 14 points 5 months ago

    It’s worth looking into how much data modern US cars are gathering as well

    Well known.

    Location & Movement: Real-time GPS coordinates, route history, frequently visited destinations (like home or work), and travel times.

    Driving Behavior: Speed, harsh braking, rapid acceleration, steering angles, and how often you engage safety features like lane-keep assist.

    Vehicle Telematics: Odometer readings, tire pressure, battery/fuel levels, diagnostic trouble codes, and maintenance needs.

    Infotainment & Syncs: Call logs, text messages, contact lists, and connected music or app preferences. Some systems use voice recognition and record conversations.

    Biometrics & Cabin Monitoring: Cabin microphones, seat sensors (which register your weight), and cameras that track eye and head movements for fatigue.

    External Cameras: 360-degree cameras, dashcams, and automated parking sensors that catalog the physical environment around your vehicle.

    https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2024/03/how-figure-out-what-your-car-knows-about-you-and-opt-out-sharing-when-you-can

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  • [–] 11 points 5 months ago (4 children)

    If I'm ever forced to buy a new car you better believe I'm finding the lte module and faraday caging that shit, regardless of what emblem is on the grill.

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  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Hear me out. Your car, your phone, and these days, the streets themselves practically track you everywhere you go. They are creating a pattern profile for you, and for everyone else. I'm not saying this is a good thing, but the silver lining is that we know about it.

    Wanna be invisible for a day? Throw your phone in the car and have your partner or friend drive around with it. The logs for that day will show you being a happy little drone driving around like normal. Here is the thing... As the surveillance state gets more and more toys to play with, they forget the important basics, the primitive tools, the personal skills, and the willingness to do the legwork that actually matters.

    If it makes you feel better/differently about the effectiveness of surveillance. Some guy kidnapped Nancy Guthrie, got captured on camera, sent a ransom note, and we still don't know who the fuck he is.

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