House committee investigates Chinese LiDAR and IoT cyber threats

TLDR:

• House committee is scrutinizing LiDAR and IoT cyber risks from China
• Experts warn about potential cyber threats from Chinese-made technology

A House of Representatives panel is looking into the cyber risks posed by Chinese-made light sensing modules and internet of things components, such as LiDAR technology and IoT devices. The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is concerned about potential security risks to critical infrastructure sectors in the U.S. due to the growing dominance of Chinese technology. Chinese companies like Hesai, known for LiDAR sensors, and other IoT manufacturers have raised concerns about national security as they may be vulnerable to cyberattacks and intelligence gathering by Chinese cyber operatives. There are plans to draft legislation to restrict the use of these components, and the Department of Defense has already prohibited the procurement of certain foreign-made LiDAR hardware. Experts warn that the widespread use of Chinese-made IoT devices in the U.S. poses a significant threat, with billions of devices potentially accessible to cyber operatives.