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The spy chiefs expressed their distrust of the China-based phone maker Huawei and the telecom firm ZTE and their business practices. The intelligence chiefs don’t recommend public servants and the staff of state agencies to use these two companies’ goods and services at all.
All six intelligence heads said during the hearing that they would not recommend Americans to buy and use any of the products produced by the two Chinese firms. Wray expressed concern that such companies could gain a position of power within the nation’s telecommunication system.
Wray warned that such level of power will allow Chinese agencies to exert control over the U.S. communications networks. This could include altering information or stealing it altogether. Plus, Wray believes that the Chinese could carry out espionage activities on U.S. soil and get away with it.
Huawei’s Reaction
Huawei replied to the criticism saying that its products are no riskier than those of any ICT seller. The Chinese group added that the U.S. government is actively trying to undermine its business operations in the U.S. market. It insisted that its brand is a trusted brand in over 170 countries.
Huawei’s first attempt to reach the U.S. market was a failed deal with AT&T. The partnership was called off after several U.S. lawmakers warned against it. In January, Huawei chief executive Richard Yu slammed American carriers for leaving customers with fewer choices.
NSA boss Rogers believes that Chinese technological products that can be used to spy on American citizens represent a “challenge” that won’t go away over time.
You need to look long and hard at companies like this,
Rogers said about Huawei.
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