Chinese-linked rental cars recorded Norwegian soldiers and military gate codes during Oslo exercise, but troops kept using them for lack of alternatives

Norwegian Home Guard personnel found that rental cars used during Exercise Hovedstad in Oslo from September 14 to 18 had recorded and stored video, the newspaper DN reported. The vehicles captured soldiers getting in and out, their movements and locations, and codes used to enter restricted military sites; personnel had not been told about the recording function.

The Armed Forces continued using the cars through the exercise because few alternatives were available. DN reported that they were rented through Hertz Norway, which is linked to China’s Geely group through Volvo Cars.

The recordings were deleted from the vehicles after the exercise, according to DN, but it was unclear whether the data had been stored elsewhere. Volvo Cars said data could not be shared with Geely without a legal basis and rejected the suggestion that Chinese ownership posed a security risk.

Exercise Hovedstad trained Norwegian forces to protect government institutions, critical infrastructure and allied arrivals during a crisis. About 5,000 Home Guard personnel took part, DN reported.