Norwegian military discovers rental cars recorded soldiers and security codes
Footage captured troops entering vehicles and typing access codes during exercises, raising concerns over Chinese ownership links.
Key points
- Dashcams in rental cars stored video of Norwegian soldiers and their security codes without authorization.
- The rental operator is part of a chain ultimately controlled by China-based Geely Holding Group.
- Norway’s counterintelligence agency states Chinese agencies have increased capacity to operate within the country.
Rental vehicles used by the Norwegian military during exercises in Oslo automatically recorded and stored video footage of soldiers, according to reports from TechRadar. The recordings captured personnel entering cars, moving about, and typing security codes into cameras without the troops’ knowledge.
Soldiers discovered the stored clips by chance while browsing vehicle menus during downtime and subsequently deleted the files. Despite finding evidence that sensitive activities were being recorded, the military continued using the vehicles for the remainder of the exercise due to a shortage of alternative transport options.
Ownership and security implications
The rental operator involved is First Rent A Car Norway AS, a Hertz-branded firm that supplies vehicles for daily errands and operational missions. Volvo Cars holds complete control of this operator, but approximately 79 percent of Volvo Cars is controlled by Geely’s Swedish holding arm.
That Swedish entity is entirely controlled by China-based Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Although ownership structure alone does not prove malicious intent, the situation has heightened scrutiny because only two of the vehicles are confirmed as Chinese-made Deepals, with the rest remaining unnamed.
Norway’s Police Security Service, the national counterintelligence body, notes that Chinese intelligence and security agencies now possess greater capacity to run operations inside Norway. This assessment adds weight to concerns about how data from these vehicles might be accessed or exploited.
Operational breaches and exposure
The cameras involved were standard dash cams that soldiers had mistakenly left switched on, allowing recordings to accumulate without review. The footage showed troops getting into and out of vehicles, their specific movements, and gate codes they typed while facing the camera lens.
Typing access codes within view of a recording device represents a serious breach of routine security protocols, regardless of the car owner’s nationality. Gate codes protect restricted areas, meaning anyone who accessed the clips could potentially learn how to enter those zones without authorization.
Public sensitivity regarding personal data remains high, so any device that silently stores images of people attracts immediate scrutiny. The incident highlights how routine equipment can inadvertently compromise operational security when proper oversight is absent.
What should you do?
Organizations using rental or shared vehicles for sensitive operations should establish clear policies regarding in-car recording devices. Personnel must verify whether dash cams are active and ensure they are disabled or covered before conducting classified activities.
Regular audits of vehicle storage systems can prevent accidental accumulation of sensitive data. Teams should treat any unmonitored recording device as a potential security risk and report findings immediately to security officers.
What to do and how to stay safe: Geely
- Inspect all rental vehicles for active dash cams or recording devices before use.
- Disable or physically cover camera lenses if recording is not operationally required.
- Avoid displaying or typing security codes within view of any potential recording device.
- Report any discovered unauthorized recordings to security personnel immediately.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Did the Norwegian military stop using the cars after finding the footage?
No, the military continued using the vehicles for the rest of the exercise due to a shortage of alternative cars.
Who owns the rental company that provided the vehicles?
First Rent A Car Norway AS is controlled by Volvo Cars, which is majority-owned by Geely’s Swedish holding arm, linked to China-based Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.
Was there evidence of deliberate espionage?
No, there is no evidence of deliberate espionage; the footage resulted from soldiers mistakenly leaving dash cams switched on.
