
IDF Swerves Away from Chinese Cars, Citing Spy Risks in Everyday Tech
The Israel Defense Forces are phasing out or avoiding Chinese-made vehicles for senior personnel due to mounting concerns that modern cars—with their cameras, microphones, and networked components—could be exploited for surveillance. Reports this month indicated that authorities have recalled numerous vehicles used by high-ranking officers, part of a wider effort to reduce exposure to potential foreign intelligence collection.
Officials and security experts note that today’s automobiles function like rolling computers, continuously generating data and sometimes communicating with external servers. Even absent hard proof of a breach, defense institutions often take precautionary steps to harden against plausible threats, particularly when sensitive movement patterns or conversations could be inferred from telemetry. The scrutiny of commercial tech is accelerating in tandem with battlefield digitization.
The move aligns with global debates on the security of connected vehicles and the supply chains behind them. Israel’s stance reflects a broader shift toward stricter procurement and tighter device policies for those with access to classified information.
(TOI/VFI News)
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” – Proverbs 22:3