Dive Brief:
- The Commerce Department is gathering input for a potential regulation on connected vehicles and whether wireless technology sourced from foreign entities presents a national security risk.
- In an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking earlier this month, the department’s Bureau of Industry and Security asked stakeholders whether its definition of connected vehicles was broad enough to cover autonomous and electric vehicles.
- The definition could eventually lead to possible restrictions on certain foreign products and manufacturers from the U.S. Comments are due by April 30.
Dive Insight:
Regulators want to protect U.S. national security from foreign threats, citing potential issues with countries such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.
The U.S. is focused on connected vehicles that are designed, developed or manufactured by entities connected with those countries in question, citing concerns over security issues that could be exploited.
Among the technology being scrutinized, some trucks have driving-facing cameras, as well as remote operators who can take control of AVs, and telematics that inform route schedules. That means the vehicles can collect sensitive data about people and fleets, capturing biometric information and environmental data, which foreign threats could have access to, the notice said.
Creating a definition of connected vehicles would serve as an initial step in reviewing and ultimately making decisions on possible restrictions. The issue stems from a Trump administration executive order in May 2019 that the Biden administration has continued to carry forward each year. The orders call for protecting digital networks.
If approved, the department could also create a pathway for some businesses to obtain exemptions from the ban, provided that security risks are mitigated.
“BIS could define a connected vehicle as an automotive vehicle that integrates onboard networked hardware with automotive software systems to communicate via dedicated short-range communication, cellular telecommunications connectivity, satellite communication, or other wireless spectrum connectivity with any other network or device,” the bureau said in its notice.
The bureau said that definition would likely cover vehicles with global navigation satellite systems, remote access or control, wireless software, on-device roadside assistance and more.
The government further noted that the term connected vehicles can have different meanings across industry and the public sector. Additionally, the bureau is considering whether a different term should replace the one for connected vehicle, such as networked vehicles, intelligent connected vehicles, software-defined vehicles or connected autonomous vehicles.
