China to Monitor Vehicles Using RFID Chips

The Chinese government has announced that starting in 2019, all new cars in the country must be equipped with RFID chips. This information was reported by The Verge, citing The Wall Street Journal.

The program is being developed by China’s Ministry of Public Security and the Research Institute of Traffic Management. RFID tags, which will be attached to car windshields, will be read by special devices installed along the roads. Unlike GPS trackers, these tags do not allow for real-time tracking of vehicles at all times, but they do enable authorities to monitor vehicle movements.

According to Chinese officials, this measure is necessary due to the threat of terrorism in the country. The government also claims that RFID tags are needed to monitor traffic: by optimizing road traffic and reducing congestion, they hope to decrease air pollution.

Starting July 1, 2018, car owners could voluntarily attach RFID tags to their vehicles, but from 2019, this requirement will become mandatory.

Concerns Over Increased Surveillance

Human rights advocates believe that the real goal of introducing RFID chips is to increase surveillance of the country’s residents. James Andrew Lewis, Senior Vice President at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, pointed out that China already has a social credit system, numerous facial recognition programs, and strict internet controls. Tracking vehicles with RFID tags will help the government better monitor citizens’ movements.