Researchers drove a NIO ES8 electric SUV deep into a Norwegian underground mine specifically to sever its external connections. The car kept attempting to reach servers, most of them located in China. These findings echo broader concerns about hidden data collection, similar to how a surveillance app was built to covertly target users without their knowledge.

That finding sits at the center of Project Lion Cage, a multi-year study initiated in 2022 by Tor Indstøy, a risk management and threat intelligence executive at Telenor Group. Indstøy purchased the NIO ES8 as a dedicated research platform.

The project arrives as Chinese EV brands expand across European markets with assurances about local data processing. Observed network behavior appears to contradict those assurances.

  • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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    23 hours ago

    “But China bad” is getting pretty old and frail in comparison to the domestic and international predations and privacy invasions of US tech businesses and government

    ah, the “DON’T CRITICIZE CHINA” is getting even fucking older and frailer in comparison.

    Especially when it says right in the article that its doing the exact opposite of what was promised.

    Which, if any other countries product was doing that, you’d have a fit over it and not be sitting there going having a big whinge fest about the unfair persecution.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      17 hours ago

      DON’T CRITICIZE CHINA

      We put a machine with a radio in a room and the radio continued to try and function.

      This is why we cannot import low priced, high quality foreign made electric engines.

      if any other countries product was doing that, you’d have a fit

      Why? It’s the same tired story, used to scare people who know nothing about communications technology. It’s all about making “Buy American” a national security issue.

      If Brazil or Italy or even the dreaded Russia was being accused of this, why wouldn’t we stare sideways?

      its doing the exact opposite of what was promised

      I mean, remind me again why I’m trusting autos.yahoo.com on their reporting? Isn’t Yahoo a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, a company with deep ties to the Epstein human trafficking cartel?

      • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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        16 hours ago

        We put a machine with a radio in a room and the radio continued to try and function.

        This is why we cannot import low priced, high quality foreign made electric engines.

        In a way that they promised it wouldnt.

        Which is kind of the important thing all you tankies seem to be willfully overlooking.

        Why? It’s the same tired story, used to scare people who know nothing about communications technology. It’s all about making “Buy American” a national security issue.

        If Brazil or Italy or even the dreaded Russia was being accused of this, why wouldn’t we stare sideways?

        If anyone else was promising device would do X, and did Y instead, it would also be a cause for concern. Regardless of who did it.

        If it was brazil, or Italy, you wouldnt be having this same tantrum over calling them out, as you are over calling out Dear China.

        I mean, remind me again why I’m trusting autos.yahoo.com on their reporting? Isn’t Yahoo a subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, a company with deep ties to the Epstein human trafficking cartel?

        he says, while having a tantrum over no one taking china, a notorious angel state that totally doesnt do horrific shit, at its word of being a good boy.

          • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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            8 hours ago

            No,thats just a poor attempt to shift the narrative away from your tantruming and away from China so you can shut down critical discussion.

      • phx@lemmy.world
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        15 hours ago

        Yeah I’d be more interested in what it’s sending. Go into a mine with your smartphone (or just an LG TV) and it’ll be continually reaching out as well… but WHAT it’s trying to receive or transmit is important.

      • bandanawearingbanana@lemmy.world
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        11 hours ago

        It’s all about making “Buy American” a national security issue.

        It absolutely is a national security issue!

        It’s not exclusive to the US, either. It’s even worse when you use American digital services outside the US. I live in Europe and it is especially bad because we have very strong privacy laws and require companies which offer digital services to have their servers in Europe.

    • GMac@feddit.org
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      17 hours ago

      Never said they were doung the right thing, just pointing out that if the behaviour warrants complaint, then complaint shoud be levied agaisnt everyone behaving that way.

      But hey, you keep on with your black and white opinions.

      • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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        16 hours ago

        Yes, exactly.

        And theres been extensive coverage of western cars spying and doing nasty stuff.

        But we get a news story about Chinese cars, who promised local data processing, still trying to connect back to chinese servers, and suddenly the tankie hands start wringing about people being so mean to poor poor china.

        because we can be big mean to western states, but we can’t be factual about poor poor china. thats just racist.

        • GMac@feddit.org
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          15 hours ago

          Your arguments would carry more weight and might even be worth debating if you could make them objectively without attempts at petty insults, and pretentions of victimhood. As it stands, you’re just kinda predictable and boring. Moving on…