In an article published on The Spectator portal, former British diplomat Charles Parton made frightening statements about predictions related to China.
According to Parton, who lived in the Asian country for 22 years, there is a new technological threat that is currently dominated by the Chinese. These are mobile internet modules.
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“Over the past few years, we've had fierce debates about the safety and security of Huawei, 5G, TikTok, semiconductors, ChatGPT and artificial intelligence. All this may have given you a certain “technological indigestion”. But let me add something even more threatening to China's threat mix: cellular internet (chip internet) security,” he said.
In another part of his extensive article, the former diplomat explained how the devices that allow access to the mobile internet work.
“They are small components incorporated into equipment or devices that process software, have geolocation capability, e-sims to connect to the Internet and much more. They transmit, receive and process massive amounts of data about your current location,” he explained.
“These modules are used in a wide range of industrial applications, including energy, logistics, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, security and payment processing. At home, they are in cars, smart meters, computers, electric vehicle chargers and white goods.”
“Like fungi, they form a mesh, independent of human action. They reach where WiFi can't and, unlike WiFi, they don't lose signal at crucial moments,” added Charles Parton.
China may be trying to monopolize the internet module market
In the course of his alarming article, Charles Parton related a strange incident involving an official British government car.
“In January, security services dismantled a UK government car because data generated by it was being transferred via a Chinese e-sim,” he said.
"Since then, the government has sought to know who used the car - or if it ever transported the prime minister," said the former diplomat.
In another part of the text, the democracy specialist cited some Chinese companies, which, according to him, may be involved in espionage schemes linked to mobile internet modules.
“Everyone has heard of Huawei and Hikvision, but few know about Quectel, Fibocom or other Chinese producers of cellular IoT modules, despite posing a much greater threat to privacy invasion of countries”, instigated.
“The Chinese Communist Party hopes to establish a monopoly on these vital components through these companies. little known, using subsidy, access to cheap finance, shared technology and other supports state. They are progressing. Chinese companies hold 64% of the global market by sales and 75% by connectivity. For North America and Europe, the shares are 30%, 35% and for India, 86”, detailed Parton.
Still according to Charles Parton, all this movement of the China it aims to create a dependence on modules produced in the country, which, in turn, would be provoked by even darker intentions.
“The goal is to drive away suppliers from other nations by offering impossibly low prices and, then establish a systemic dependency on Chinese suppliers and equipment,” he warned. he.
obscure goals
The former diplomat said that the Chinese goal is to spy on people around the globe, without the need to use human spies, as was done in the early 20th century.
“Using cellular modules, it is possible to create an intimate image of someone being targeted. You can follow it from the front door camera, using street cameras, the car and payments. You can even follow your conversations in cafes or clubs through lip reading technology combined with Hikvision cameras”, described Charles Parton.
To add even more weight to his words, the retired British government official claimed that the Chinese may be planning a lot more than just spying on world leaders.
As he mentions in an excerpt of his article, with the monopoly of distribution of internet modules mobile phone, which is China's alleged goal, the Asian country could induce electrical problems to the distance.
“Many people may not care if the fridge or the doorbell spy on them across China. But would you mind if your fridge stopped working. By sending software updates to cellular modules, China could remotely cut electricity supply,” he said.
“If the Chinese Communist Party manages to gain a monopoly on the supply of mobile internet modules, it could take down a country's grid by targeting smart meters (which contain these modules) at a time of high electricity usage. electricity. It would take months to repair,” he pointed out.
Before concluding his article, Charles Parton makes an important warning. “Most ministers and government officials have never heard of mobile internet modules. And companies need to consider the potential consequences of continuing to rely on Chinese cellular modules beyond the short-term cost advantage,” he alarmed.
“We need quick action to avoid further penetration and thus risks. A start would be to ensure that Quectel and other Chinese companies cannot be treated as suppliers. reliable in government contracts or critical infrastructure contracts", pointed out Charles, indicating a possible solution.
Finally, Parton made one more appeal and pointed out another viable solution, this time with regard to supplying modules.
“This [the Chinese-made internet module] is the stuff of nightmares. It may sound like fantasy or a science fiction novel, but unfortunately it isn't. We need to wake up. Fortunately, there are European, American, Japanese and other companies whose products we can trust”, he guaranteed.
