The Polish Army has banned Chinese vehicles from military premises

The Polish army has banned Chinese cars from entering military facilities, hoping to prevent the collection of sensitive data by technologically advanced automobiles.

Modern vehicles equipped with sophisticated sensors and communication systems are “capable of unrestricted collection and use of data,” the Polish military wrote in a statement defending the ban.

The vehicles are now able to collect video, sound and location, and there are fears that Chinese manufacturers will share some of this potentially sensitive data with their authorities.

All cars capable of location, video and sound recording will be banned from secure military areas, unless those functions are switched off, the Polish military said, adding that the new restrictions will not only apply to Chinese products.

Connecting official army phones to infotainment systems in any vehicle produced in China is also prohibited. The military said the measures introduced were preventive and in line with methods used by other NATO countries.

The Army said it is considering technical solutions to ask producers of cars with such advanced functions for security clearance, which could be used in future instead of a blanket ban.

According to Warsaw-based market research firm IBRM Samar, the presence of Chinese vehicles in the Polish market has expanded significantly in recent years.

At the same time, the US and its European partners are making efforts to protect sensitive technology and information from foreign snooping, including by China.

Responding to earlier reports that Poland was preparing such a ban, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters in January that China was following developments and should stop abusing the concept of national security.