Recent Beijing legislation on the fight against espionage encourages foreign firms to be much more careful than before, to bear the risks associated with conducting activities in a country that has turned national security into the main priority.
So, for example, the American automaker Tesla has to constantly maneuver between the interests of Beijing and the West in order not to miss the positions in the promising Chinese electric car market. The company is forced to make concessions in terms of data regulation and censorship, as well as quickly publicly respond to certain accusations in order to successfully compete in China.
Last week, the Chinese airport Yuean Sanhe forbidden Tesla car parking on its territory from considerations of secrecy. It is reported that the whole thing is in the so-called “Sentry Mode” in Tesla cars using external cameras to find suspicious activity in the absence of the owner. This mode is primarily intended for protection against hacks and thefts, but it hardly worries someone.
In response to the new ban Tesla stated that the data from the security regime are not transmitted and stored only locally in the cars. Representatives argue that neither the owner of the car nor the company itself can gain access to these data.
Previously, Tesla electric cars were no longer allowed for some government objects in China. And despite the presence of such functions among many local manufacturers of electric vehicles, the foreign origin of Tesla clearly undermines confidence, so the brand is given closer attention.
The company also reminded the public that at the request of the Chinese government back in 2021, it created a special center for data localization in accordance with the requirements for storing critical data in the country.
Is this not evidence that the data from cars do not leave the limits of China, and any confidential information is safe? One way or another, companies have to make excuses and prove their case, so as not to miss sales in the territory of the PRC.
Similar difficulties will soon arise