CAN bus hack puts connected vehicle security in focus
An ABC Four Corners investigation has put connected vehicle security under the spotlight, after a cybersecurity expert from Fortify Labs tapped directly into the CAN bus of a BYD Shark 6.
In response to growing public discussion around vehicle privacy, cybersecurity and safety, the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA) has called for greater transparency and clearer information on connected vehicle technologies from manufacturers and government.
AADA CEO James Voortman said dealers and their 64,000 employees were increasingly fielding customer questions about connected vehicles. Customers want to know what the vehicles can do, what information they collect, which functions can be accessed remotely and what safeguards exist to keep these technologies safe and secure.
“Australian car buyers are asking legitimate questions about connected vehicle technologies and deserve clear answers,” Mr Voortman said.
He said the questions went beyond privacy and data collection, with customers also wanting to understand how the technologies operate, what protections are in place and how manufacturers and regulators are managing cybersecurity and safety risks.
As the customer-facing part of the supply chain, dealers are regularly asked about connected technologies that are now standard features of modern vehicles. Mr Voortman said the industry needed an urgent, fact-based debate on the issue so it could give car buyers confidence, along with a thorough understanding of what the future regulatory landscape looks like.
The AADA said responsibility for vehicle design, software systems, connected technologies and regulatory compliance rests with manufacturers and government authorities. However, it said industry should not be left without the information it needs to support customers.
Mr Voortman said government agencies and regulators play a critical role in ensuring appropriate oversight and public confidence. He also said the issue highlighted vulnerabilities in the Australian Consumer Law and argued manufacturers rather than dealers should be liable for the products they supply.
If Australians are expected to embrace increasingly connected vehicles, the AADA said, there must be a coordinated effort to make clear and accessible information available to both industry and the public.
The association is calling for greater collaboration between manufacturers, transport regulators, security agencies, dealers, consumer groups and the wider automotive industry to improve transparency and public confidence.
Mr Voortman said the goal was for dealers and their customers to have confidence in the technologies entering the Australian market, backed by factual information, transparency and appropriate safeguards.
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