Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) have entered Canada for the first time, sparking national security and privacy concerns.
More than 2,900 Chinese EVs arrived in May, after Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to reduce tariffs from 100% to 6.1% on up to 49,000 vehicles per year, in exchange for lower Chinese tariffs on Canadian agricultural products.
A federal government memo warns that data from connected vehicle systems could be used to "establish patterns of life or conduct surveillance on sensitive sites." The risk increases when data transits through foreign jurisdictions with less stringent privacy frameworks.
Neil Bisson, a former intelligence officer, says the Chinese government could compel manufacturers-under its 2017 National Intelligence Law-to hand over collected data. He warns that many Canadians may not fully grasp the security implications, especially as lower prices make Chinese EVs more attractive.