Security News > 2020 > July > More Countries Waking up to Huawei Threats, US Say
A growing number of countries are recognizing the threat to data privacy from using mobile technology from the Chinese giant Huawei, and are likely to shun the company when building out their 5G networks, the top US security advisor said Wednesday.
"Each country is going to make their decisions for their own country, but I think there's a growing recognition everywhere that Huawei is a problem," National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien told journalists in Paris.
His comments came after three days of talks with counterparts from France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, which surprised many on Tuesday by banning Huawei entirely from its 5G rollout.
Despite months of US pressure, other European nations have only imposed limits on using Huawei equipment for 5G or declined to do so, in part over fears of angering a major economic power.
Washington believes Huawei gear could give Chinese authorities a back door into networks that would allow it not only to spy on government secrets but also sweep up vast amounts of personal data.