“I was able to see a lot of data. Where Tesla was, where it was charged, where it is, where it normally parks, while driving, travel speed, navigation requests, software update history, around Tesla. Includes weather history and more. Colombo is a medium-sized post published in January detailing his achievements.
Although the specific vulnerabilities exploited by Colombo have been patched, his hack shows a major flaw in the core of these smart vehicles. Data sharing is not a bug. It’s a feature.
The amount of data Tesla collects and uses is just the tip of the iceberg. I haven’t seen a fully autonomous vehicle or a proud “smart city” where you can see 5G-enabled roads and traffic lights.
In the near future, cars will collect information about vehicles, pedestrians and surrounding cities as well as drivers and passengers. Some of that data is needed for the car to function properly. This is to reduce collisions, plan routes better, and improve the vehicle itself.
TuLe, Managing Director of Sino Auto Insights, said: The United States, Canada and Europe may continue to be world leaders in the production of traditional cars, but that lead will not last long. Whether it’s cobalt mining, lithium battery innovation, 5G-enabled technology, or large-scale data analysis, China is a few steps ahead of its Western competitors, Le said.
“Everything that looks irrelevant has converged on this smart EV,” he tells him.
Of course, not all of Beijing’s success has been honestly brought about. Chinese people have been accused of stealing intellectual property from American companies to strengthen China’s growing industry. Le says some espionage is certainly helpful, but it’s not the main reason for the explosive growth in Beijing’s automotive sector.
For example, China’s ability to process stunning amounts of data is well documented. Beijing’s facial recognition program relies on a ubiquitous network of surveillance cameras. A unique GPS system allows real-time tracking of the Muslim minority in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Its extensive online surveillance system is reflected in Gistopia’s Social Credit Score. “Some countries are used to managing terabytes of data every day,” says Le. Not in the United States, at least when it comes to the automotive industry.
And that data isn’t just for Chinese. A large investment from Beijing has brought the brand’s “smart city” to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Venezuela; and countries throughout Africa. Chinese self-driving car pilot projects like Pony.ai are also underway in California.
China has learned that diverse data that take into account major differences in weather, people, and technology can improve the algorithm. If China is good at utilizing that data, it may require less data. Therefore, even the anonymized, general data relayed from the fleet of Chinese cars in North America reveals individual patterns and customs, as well as the schedule of military bases and strong ministers in the city. By banning Tesla from certain areas, China clearly seems to already be in control of the threat domestically.