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President Trump yesterday signed a defense funding bill that included a sweeping ban on the US government using technology supplied by Chinese telecommunications giants ZTE and Huawei. The bill also includes a narrower ban on using surveillance gear provided by Chinese companies Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, or Dahua Technology for national security applications.
The legislation directs federal agencies to stop using the Chinese-made hardware within two years. If that proves impractical, an agency can apply for a waiver to permit a longer phase-out period.
Obviously, being banned from selling to the US government is a significant blow to these companies. But overall the bill actually represents something of a reprieve for ZTE. Back in June, the US Senate passed a version of the bill that would have re-imposed an export ban that would have been a de facto death sentence for ZTE because ZTE is heavily dependent on components like Qualcomm chips and Google's Android operating system.
Previously: Verizon Cancels Plans to Sell Huawei Phone Due to U.S. Government Pressure
U.S. Intelligence Agency Heads Warn Against Using Huawei and ZTE Products
The U.S. Intelligence Community's Demonization of Huawei Remains Highly Hypocritical
Huawei CEO Still Committed to the U.S. Market
Rural Wireless Association Opposes U.S. Government Ban on Huawei and ZTE Equipment
ZTE Suspends Operations Due to U.S. Ban (UPDATED)
(Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 15 2018, @09:54PM (5 children)
My coworker bought surveillance gear for his home. He didn't want Chinese gear, so he bought something from a Canadian company... or so he thought. Picking apart the web interface source he finds "Hikvision".
It's the same with lots of stuff. Dell makes printers... or do they? No, they don't.
The security situation here is a disaster. China can use all these devices to spy on American homes and businesses, blackmailing people and swiping trade secrets.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by crafoo on Wednesday August 15 2018, @09:56PM (3 children)
Well the Chinese can't throw me into prison without a trial or just come to my home and shoot me if I step out of line. I think I choose their backdoors over our domestic government's backdoors.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 15 2018, @10:08PM (2 children)
Suppose they reveal that they know some dark secret in your personal life. They offer to keep quiet about it... if you provide some help. You thus become a spy.
Think you don't have a dark secret? They can provide one! All they have to do is fill your computer with child porn and then tip off the FBI.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 15 2018, @11:20PM
That shows the problem with making possession of anything illegal: It's all too easy for governments to plant the illegal possession. This is especially true for data.
Also, this tactic could also be used by the US government; it certainly is not above it. I would still maintain that the US government is a much greater threat to US citizens than the Chinese government is.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 15 2018, @11:25PM
I'd say "Sir, yes Sir" because it is 100% FBI building yet another case.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 16 2018, @03:35PM
if you're using windows and/or don't have a real firewall, you deserve it. act like a slave, get treated like a slave.