China’s United Company Acquires EZ Pass in New Jersey, Raises Concerns
In a move that has raised eyebrows in the United States, China’s United Company has acquired the EZ Pass system in New Jersey, a popular electronic toll collection system used by millions of drivers on the state’s highways. The acquisition has sparked concerns about data privacy and national security, with many likening it to the controversy surrounding the popular social media app TikTok.
The EZ Pass system, which was previously owned by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, allows drivers to pay tolls electronically without having to stop at toll booths. The system uses a small transponder attached to the windshield of a vehicle to track the driver’s movement and calculate the tolls owed.
China’s United Company, a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate China Mobile, announced the acquisition in a statement earlier this week, citing the company’s "strategic interest" in the EZ Pass system. The company plans to integrate the system with its own technology to provide "enhanced services" to users.
However, the acquisition has raised concerns about the potential for Chinese authorities to access sensitive data about American drivers. The EZ Pass system collects a vast amount of data, including drivers’ locations, travel patterns, and payment information.
"This is a major concern for us," said Senator Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey. "We need to make sure that our data is protected and that our national security is not compromised."
The acquisition has also sparked comparisons to the controversy surrounding TikTok, a popular social media app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. In recent months, the US government has raised concerns about the app’s potential to collect sensitive data about American users and share it with Chinese authorities.
"This is worse than TikTok," said Representative Tom Malinowski, a Democrat from New Jersey. "At least with TikTok, we can choose not to use the app. But with EZ Pass, we have no choice. We have to use it to pay our tolls."
The acquisition has also raised concerns about the potential for Chinese authorities to use the EZ Pass system to track the movements of American drivers and gather intelligence on the country’s infrastructure.
"We need to be very careful about who we allow to collect and store sensitive data about our citizens," said Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida. "This acquisition is a major red flag and we need to investigate it further."
In response to the concerns, China’s United Company has issued a statement assuring that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in the United States and will protect the data of EZ Pass users.
"We understand the concerns and we want to assure our customers that we will continue to operate the EZ Pass system in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations," said a spokesperson for China’s United Company. "We will also work closely with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to ensure a smooth transition and to provide enhanced services to our customers."
The acquisition is still pending regulatory approval, and it remains to be seen how the US government will respond to the concerns raised by the acquisition. One thing is certain, however: the acquisition of the EZ Pass system by China’s United Company has raised significant concerns about data privacy and national security, and it will be closely watched in the coming weeks and months.
