Jul 29, 2026 – 5.00amAuthoritarian regimes could harvest and weaponise sensitive data from electric vehicle drivers, issue orders to remotely kill their car engines, switch off their headlights in the dark or disable airbags, experts say, unless Australia updates its privacy and cybersecurity laws.Consumer rights groups and cybersecurity experts have warned the failure of Australian laws to keep pace with modern vehicle technology, including software and data capabilities, poses major data privacy and national security risks.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
Privacy law gaps turn smart cars into foreign weapons
Amid concerns overseas actors could remotely kill engines, switch off headlights or disable airbags, calls have been raised to update Australia’s legislation.
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