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China Privacy Technology

Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents (wsj.com) 34

Posted by msmash from the closer-look dept.
phalse phace writes: A WSJ investigation appears to have uncovered multiple instances where the African governments in Uganda and Zambia, with the help of Huawei technicians, used Huawei's communications equipment to spy on and censor political opponents and its citizens. From the report, writes phalse phace: Huawei Technologies dominates African markets, where it has sold security tools that governments use for digital surveillance and censorship. But Huawei employees have provided other services, not disclosed publicly. Technicians from the Chinese powerhouse have, in at least two cases, personally helped African governments spy on their political opponents, including intercepting their encrypted communications and social media, and using cell data to track their whereabouts, according to senior security officials working directly with the Huawei employees in these countries.

It should be noted that while the findings "show how Huawei employees have used the company's technology and other companies' products to support the domestic spying of those governments," the investigation didn't turn up evidence of spying by or on behalf of Beijing in Africa. Nor did it find that Huawei executives in China knew of, directed or approved the activities described. It also didn't find that there was something particular about the technology in Huawei's network that made such activities possible. Details of the operations, however, offer evidence that Huawei employees played a direct role in government efforts to intercept the private communications of opponents.
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Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents More

Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

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  • Huawei IS its employees (Score:5, Insightful)

    by cayenne8 ( 626475 ) on Wednesday August 14, 2019 @11:06AM (#59086206) Homepage Journal

    It should be noted that while the findings "show how Huawei employees have used the company's technology and other companies' products to support the domestic spying of those governments," the investigation didn't turn up evidence of spying by or on behalf of Beijing in Africa. Nor did it find that Huawei executives in China knew of, directed or approved the activities described. It also didn't find that there was something particular about the technology in Huawei's network that made such activities possible. Details of the operations, however, offer evidence that Huawei employees played a direct role in government efforts to intercept the private communications of opponents.

    A company IS its employees.

    There's no way this type of thing occurred at this level without knowledge of the executives and management, no way.

    I don't think there is any way to dodge that Huawei is a company that is NOT to be trusted with a nation's communication infrastructure or devices.

    At least not if you are a democracy or republic...etc....anything but a dictatorship / oppressive regime.

    But then again, look where the company emanates from....

    • Re: (Score:1, Troll)

      by fustakrakich ( 1673220 )

      I forget, why are we singling out Huawei again?

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by Sir_Eptishous ( 873977 )

        I forget, why are we singling out Huawei again?

        Damn, I knew it wouldn't be long until Huawei apologists showed up...
        Bro, you're on your game!

      • Re:Huawei IS its employees (Score:5, Insightful)

        by twocows ( 1216842 ) on Wednesday August 14, 2019 @11:38AM (#59086298)
        Because they're the ones in the news right now. If you have evidence of similar unethical dealings from other smartphone companies happening right now, submit it as a story and we can talk about that. Until then, you'll be perceived as deflecting because, intentionally or not, that's what you're doing.

        It's pretty common knowledge that a large majority of tech companies (and companies in general) are unethical to varying degrees and involved with bad stuff. Huawei is an easy target because there's a lot of information about the bad stuff they do and they're quite visibly attached to the political apparatus of China. They're the low-hanging fruit, so they get reported on.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by gtall ( 79522 )

        There's no we. Trump got up one morning and decided that since he was in a dick fight with Jinping, Huawei was Chinese, and Huawei was ahead in 5-G, that he could step on them to squeeze Jinping. He admitted to such when he said if China bought enough U.S. farm products, he'd take the pressure off Huawei.

        Regarding their security issues, Trump doesn't get security and cannot keep his attention during any security briefings and doesn't understand anything he's told anyhow. His thinking doesn't get beyond "Ooo

      • Well maybe this is the reason: https://www.bloomberg.com/news... [bloomberg.com] https://www.cyberscoop.com/and... [cyberscoop.com] https://www.theverge.com/2018/... [theverge.com]
      • Geopolitics. Yes, we know it's hard [for you.]

        • Pffft... It's plain old gangster warfare for turf. There's nothing "hard" about your geopolitical theater. In fact, it's downright repetitious

      • It's been over a week since the last Huawei-bashing story ran, I was wondering what had happened, they should be running daily at least.

    • There's no way this type of thing occurred at this level without knowledge of the executives and management, no way.

      Well . . . they could go with the Volkswagen executive defense . . . and blame it on a "rogue programmer" . . .

    • Re:Huawei IS its employees (Score:5, Insightful)

      by DesScorp ( 410532 ) on Wednesday August 14, 2019 @11:47AM (#59086336) Journal

      A company IS its employees.

      In the case of Red China, the company IS an arm of the government. That's the important thing here. The Chinese are doing what the Soviets did in Africa in the 60's and 70's; slowly taking things over with various proxy governments. China is just using their corporations... all of whom serve the their governments as defacto government agencies... to spread their rule rather than sending in armies and military "advisers".

      If you're dealing with a Chinese company in any capacity, then you're actually doing business with the Communist Party of the People's Republic of China.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by gtall ( 79522 )

        Yep, sort of makes pulling out of the Transpacific Trade Agreement and screwing over NATO and thus the EU and peeing on Japan and Korea something of a drag on curtailing Chinese influence. Instant Karma, just add Trump and the U.S. can be a loser just like him.

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by vbdasc ( 146051 )

      Okay, let Huawei be its employees. What bad did Huawei do this time? Cooperated with some sovereign countries' lawful and internationally recognized governments. Did Huawei break these nation's laws? Is there any evidence for that? I don't think so. Does the WSJ article suggest that these governments somehow violate their own laws? Yes, apparently. Hint: The US constitution has no authority in these countries,nor anywhere in the world but the USA.

  • When there's a will, there's Huawei

    I'll see myself out, thanks

  • Any actual evidence for this? (Score:4, Interesting)

    by notdecnet ( 6156534 ) on Wednesday August 14, 2019 @11:35AM (#59086290)
    Here's a story with actual details: All roads in US cable biz GTT's Brit network seem to lead to Menwith Hill [theregister.co.uk]
    • Evidence: "internal police documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal". I'm becoming more and more sceptical of newspapers that don't even bother to link to redacted scans of such documents. It used to be that they had lack of space in the physical paper as an excuse but now they have a website and it doesn't fly anymore.

  • Looks like the US needs to find more new arsenal in its trade war with China.

  • ... do they think they are? The NSA?

  • Democracy dies in darkness
    • The tagline is WaPo but I feel it can be used by any MSM outfit at this state. Google, Huawei, Microsoft, Facebook are all follow the same practices and their msm sycophants are paid to keep you in the dark.

  • If they were willing to spy on behalf of some African countries thousands of miles away from the Huawei company HQ, what are the chances that they're willing to spy on behalf of their own autocratic government that sends them into reeducation camp otherwise?

  • I wonder what the situation between USA and China will end up with. Countries with economies based on US currency may suffer as well as US citizens because of fall in exchange. Though, the real problem is American government wants to spy on everybody and to be the only one, preventing from spying by other countries. IS it good asks the essay service [theessayservice.org]?

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