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Germany Bans Chinese Drones Over Data Fears
11 Nov
Summary
- Germany banned Chinese-made drones from military bases.
- Western forces worry tech may send data to Beijing.
- US also banned Chinese EVs from Kadena airbase.
Germany has implemented an immediate ban on commercially available Chinese-made drones at its military bases and training grounds, citing significant security concerns. This decision reflects a broader apprehension among Western military forces regarding Chinese technology's potential to transmit sensitive data to Beijing.
The ban, effective immediately, comes after the US military prohibited Chinese BYD electric vehicles from entering its Kadena airbase in Okinawa, a critical hub in East Asia. German military units had acquired these drones with limited oversight, and a blanket ban is now imposed as a central record of purchases is unavailable.
This trend of restricting Chinese technology extends to other nations. Poland previously barred Chinese-made vehicles from military facilities due to concerns about data collection via onboard sensors. The US military stated that such vehicles present "unacceptable and unmitigable risk to our personnel and our mission."
Concerns are not limited to military equipment. The Dutch government issued safety advice regarding smart features in modern vehicles, warning they could be used by hostile states for espionage. Similarly, British defence firms cautioned employees against pairing phones with Chinese electric cars over fears of sensitive data extraction.
