UK MP warns of Chinese technologies in smart devices

A politician in the UK has warned that smart devices that contain Chinese technologies could be at risk of being accessed remotely.

The Labour MP Graeme Downie has asked ministers to encourage UK manufacturing capacity for cellular models used in the “internet of things.”

In an interview with the Financial Times, Downie explained how connected devices like electric cars, mobile payment terminals, and civilian drones form a ‘soft underbelly of infrastructure’ that could be targeted.

“We’re not taking that threat seriously at the moment. We just need to make sure we’re much more alive to it in the future.

“These devices collect data, they transmit information. They’re not hackable but they are theoretically controllable — you can disrupt, if nothing else,” he added.

In a post on X, the MP said: “We need to be more alive to threats to the soft underbelly of our technological infrastructure and use that as an opportunity to grow our own domestic industry to protect our national security.”

We need to be more alive to threats to the soft underbelly of our technological infrastructure and use that as an opportunity to grow our own domestic industry to protect our national security.@ft @LOS_Fisherhttps://t.co/mPDpsdkQxA

— Graeme Downie MP (@GraemeDownieMP) February 20, 2025

This comes at a time when many daily necessities are being integrated with technologies, from fridges to smart meters and much more. While the technology industry is evolving quickly, it’s still relatively new, which could explain why governments are starting to grapple with how to manage it.

In the Financial Times article, a British government spokesperson spoke on the topic: “The UK already has one of the most robust product security regimes in the world and research is continuing to help us identify new areas of vulnerability as technology develops and target policy work.

“We are committed to continuing to bolster cyber defences to protect British people and businesses, which is why we will be introducing the Cyber Security and Resilience bill later this year.” Concerns around Chinese smart devices

The British government has already taken some steps in this field as they cite security concerns, including ordering the removal of all technology made by Huawei from the 5G network by the end of 2027.

The Ministry of Defence has also reportedly ordered military chiefs to avoid having sensitive conversations in Chinese-made electric cars due to fears that inbuilt microphones could record and transmit conversations.

This comes after the department leased hundreds of electric vehicles to try to reach Net Zero targets. According to The Sun, many of the cars in the updated fleet include MGs from China’s state-owned Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.

It’s not just over in Europe where concerns have arisen, as it was in September 2024 when reports stated officials in the US were worried that technology used for autonomous driving and to connect cars to other networks could allow enemies to “remotely manipulate cars on American roads.”

Featured Image: AI-generated via Grok on X

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