China: Issue New Rules for Safer Data Collection in Smart Vehicles

China has introduced new rules to improve cybersecurity in connected vehicles, focusing on controlling how they collect external data.

The guidance was released by the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee (TC260), is aimed at stopping vehicles from secretly gathering large amounts of sensitive personal information and important data, which was announced on 19 December 2024.

Key Highlights

The new rules mainly target intelligent connected vehicles, especially those with sensors like cameras and radars that collect and analyze external data.

Here’s what the guidance suggests:

• One-Click Data Stop: Vehicles should have a physical button to instantly turn off external sensors like cameras and radars.

• Safe Mode Notifications: Vehicles should notify users or managers when they are in a safe mode, meaning data collection is paused.

Who Can Use These Rules?

• Sensitive Areas: Authorities in high-security zones can use the guidance to monitor and manage the data collection of vehicles entering these areas.

• Independent Testing: Third-party agencies can use the guidance to test vehicles for functionality and ensure they can safely stop external data collection.

The full press release is available in Chinese - here.

These measures reflect China's efforts to strengthen data security in smart vehicles, balancing technological innovation with personal privacy and safety.