Poland Bans Chinese-Made Vehicles from Military Facilities Over Data Security Concerns

Poland’s armed forces have introduced a formal ban on vehicles manufactured in the People’s Republic of China from entering protected military facilities, citing risks tied to modern vehicle digital systems that can collect and transmit data. The move, announced this week by senior army leadership, also places limits on how defence personnel interact with such vehicles to safeguard sensitive information and infrastructure. 

The prohibition was enacted by the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces following an internal risk assessment that flagged potential vulnerabilities in connected vehicles’ sensors, cameras and communication systems. These technologies, now standard in many modern cars, are capable of recording location, images and audio — data the military says could be inadvertently accessed or misused if vehicles enter secure zones. 

Under the new rules, Chinese-built cars are not allowed inside protected military sites, including bases and other sensitive defence installations. The directive also bars military personnel from connecting official phones to the infotainment or digital systems of Chinese vehicles, even outside secure zones, to reduce the risk of sensitive military data being exposed. 

The restrictions extend beyond China-origin cars. Any vehicle — including non-Chinese brands — equipped with integrated or added devices capable of recording position, video or sound is subject to similar limits unless those functions are disabled before entry. Facilities commanders are instructed to require such vehicles to deactivate relevant systems or park outside secure perimeters. 

Officials emphasise the policy’s preventive and security-driven nature. It does not constitute a ban on ownership or general use of Chinese-made cars by the public within Poland, nor does it apply to publicly accessible military locations such as hospitals or garrison clubs. It also exempts military and emergency vehicles and operations. 

The Polish military has indicated it may develop security vetting procedures allowing certain vehicles to be certified for entry after technical evaluation, addressing concerns while adapting to evolving vehicle technology. 

The decision aligns with broader Western efforts to tighten control over foreign technology in critical infrastructure and sensitive state environments. Other NATO countries have implemented varied controls on devices capable of data collection on secured sites, though Poland’s measure is among the clearest focused specifically on the origin of vehicle manufacture.