US to probe if Chinese cars pose national data security risks

WASHINGTON, Feb 29 (Reuters) - The United States is opening an investigation into whether Chinese vehicle imports pose national security risks and could impose restrictions due to concerns about "connected" car technology, the White House said on Thursday.

The U.S. Commerce Department probe is needed because vehicles "collect large amounts of sensitive data on their drivers and passengers (and) regularly use their cameras and sensors to record detailed information on U.S. infrastructure," the White House said.

As vehicles could "be piloted or disabled remotely" the probe will also look at autonomous vehicles.

"China's policies could flood our market with its vehicles, posing risks to our national security," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "I’m not going to let that happen on my watch."

White House officials told reporters it was too early to say what action might be taken and said there was no decision on a potential ban or restrictions on connected Chinese vehicles.

Officials told reporters the U.S. government has wide legal powers and could take action with a potentially "large impact".

Biden called the effort an "unprecedented action to ensure that cars on U.S. roads from countries of concern like China do not undermine our national security."

There are relatively few Chinese-made light duty vehicles being imported into the United States. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the administration was taking action before they become widespread and "potentially threaten our privacy and national security."