Hidden device transmitting location information found in car used by members of the British government, British newspaper reported i (owned by Daily Mail and General Trust). According to the sources of the publication in intelligence, Chinese intelligence services may be behind this.
The geolocation device was found inside a “sealed part” that was imported from China. According to the newspaper, we are talking about a SIM card that can transmit location data. Sources told i that such a device makes it possible to constantly register movements and create a “rich picture of activity.”
According to unnamed intelligence officials, the find is indicative of China’s “broad approach” to surveillance in the West, rather than “a specific targeting of ministerial vehicles.” The interlocutor of i, who previously worked in the security services of the kingdom, suggested that not only China, but also Russia could receive the data.
The British newspaper notes that SIM cards are installed in various components of many modern cars. This allows manufacturers to obtain information about the operation of machines. Manufacturers such as BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen and Volvo are partnering with China’s Unicom to equip vehicles with fifth-generation communication devices. In 2021, Unicom was identified as a US national security threat.