China and Germany sign a mutual declaration on exchanging automobile data

China and Germany sign a mutual declaration on exchanging automobile data

According to the announcement, the two nations will collaborate to create common guidelines and standards for handling the data produced as businesses develop autonomous driving.

In an effort to address a sensitive issue for foreign companies operating in China, Germany and China have signed a joint statement to collaborate on connected and autonomous driving. Germany thinks this would allow automakers to send data from China to Germany.

According to the announcement, the two nations will collaborate to create common guidelines and standards for handling the data produced as businesses develop autonomous driving.

With Washington launching an investigation in February into potential national security threats from Chinese car imports, the remark coincides with increased concern from the EU and US about the potential security danger of Chinese technology infiltrating their markets and gathering data domestically.

However, European company executives, such as the China head of Volkswagen, have voiced their dissatisfaction with China's limitations on data transmission back to Europe, which are much more stringent than those that Europe permits businesses to send to China.

China has tightened its control over data management domestically, and most sectors now need to get authorization before transferring data outside of the nation.

Authorities in China tightened data regulations for the auto sector last year and suggested outlawing smart car data transfers directly to foreign countries, forcing Chinese automakers to utilize local cloud services instead.

Nevertheless, when companies voiced concerns about unclear regulations and how burdensome and disruptive they may be to their operations, Chinese officials seemed to be relaxing their position.

According to Germany's announcement, the declaration would provide a forum for more debate on the subject, stressing the lack of agreement and calling for "tangible improvements for German and EU companies in this area".

With the use of lidars and sensors, self-driving vehicles gather a tonne of data on the actions of both the driver and passengers as well as the environment. Additionally, via connecting to drivers' phones and other gadgets, cars are gathering a growing quantity of data about them.