An Australian has made a shocking allegation that his Chinese-made electric car can spy on him using its SIM card.
The man, who drives a BYD EV, shared a video on social media claiming that the car’s software can listen to his conversations through the SIM card.
SIM cards are now standard in most new cars and allow continuous, always-on access to the Internet and various online services.
But the man warned that a third party could dial his BYD’s SIM, allowing conversations to be transmitted from inside the vehicle without the driver knowing.
In the video, the man called the car’s SIM and the vehicle’s audio was heard on his phone, but there was no indication on the electric vehicle’s digital display that a call was being made.
There seemed to be no way to end the call from inside the car, and it was still possible to call the car’s SIM card even with the engine off.
The latest claim came after former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce warned that Australia should follow the United States and consider banning Chinese-made electric vehicles over security and privacy fears.
More than 80 per cent of electric vehicles sold in Australia are made in China, including popular Chinese brands BYD, MG and Geely.
Speaking on Sunday, Joyce questioned whether they could be used as weapons for a “malevolent purpose”.
An Australian driving a BYD EV posted a video on social media claiming the software could hear what he was saying. stock image
In the video, the man called the car’s SIM card and the car’s audio was heard on his phone, but there was no indication on the electric vehicle’s digital display that a call was being made. stock image
Both Labor and the Coalition have ruled out a ban, which the US is considering over fears the technology in these cars poses risks to national security and privacy.
But Joyce said Australia should proceed with caution after Israel secretly embedded explosives in hundreds of pagers carried by Hezbollah members, before detonating the wireless devices, killing 12 people and injuring thousands.
“After the pager problem… the coin fell for so many people that there is the remote ability to create massive pain, massive damage, maybe at least create total collapse and chaos,” he told Sky News.
“People have to start asking questions like can the software be updated, can these vehicles be tracked, are they made in China, is there a malevolent purpose behind this by a totalitarian state, what could the consequences be? ‘of that?’
Last week, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the US would move to ban electric vehicles over fears that the technology in these cars, including internet-operated cameras, microphones and GPS tracking, posed risks. for national security and privacy.
“It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of citizens,” he said.
“In an extreme situation, foreign adversaries could shut down or take control of all of their vehicles operating in the United States at the same time.”
Despite US concerns, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said he wanted Australians to have the “maximum choice” in cars.
‘We will not ban vehicles manufactured in any particular country. “We will continue to work with all relevant agencies to ensure all necessary fixes are put in place, but I want Australians to have more choice of vehicles to buy, not less, more choice,” he said.
In a previous complaint about issues with Chinese car SIM cards, one driver said they couldn’t “hang up the covert call from the car, even by opening the phone app or pressing the answer/hang up button on the steering wheel.” .
“Even turning off your cell phone allowed you to take a call, so there is no way you would find that an Australian Atto 3 customer would have privacy in their own car if someone was spying on them,” they said. carexpert.com.au in January 2023.
Another driver said he had received several calls through his car’s SIM card, suggesting it may have previously been used in a phone.
“Four different people somehow called my car… the first time I thought someone connected to my Bluetooth, but after the fourth I assumed they were somehow calling my SIM number,” they said.
BYD electric vehicles (EV) are displayed at a car dealership in Shanghai, China, on February 3, 2023.
Barnaby Joyce (pictured) said Chinese-made electric vehicles could be used as weapons for an “evil purpose”.
At the time, BYD’s Australian distributor EVDirect said it was working with Telstra, the SIM provider, to fix the issue.
“There is no risk of exposure for people who obtain data from car owners,” said EVDirect’s Luke Todd.
“Telstra stores all SIM card data and information securely.”
In a previous complaint about issues with Chinese car SIM cards, one driver said they couldn’t “hang up the covert call from the car, even by opening the phone app or pressing the answer/hang up button on the steering wheel.” .
Daily Mail Australia has contacted BYD for further comment.
