German regulators said Lithuania would begin a security investigation into certain Chinese-made smartphones after warning about the incorporation of censorship and surveillance capabilities.
The German Federal Information Security Agency told Deutsche Presse-Agentur that many Chinese mobile phone investigations are underway on the Huawei P40 5G, Xiaomi Mi 10T 5G and OnePlus 8T 5G. The office is located under the Federal Department of Interior, the building, and the community.
Germany’s intervention will take place after EU member Lithuania warns its citizens to stay away from Chinese mobile phones.
Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Margiris Abkevisius said on September 21 “We recommend that you do not buy a new Chinese mobile phone and remove the one you have already purchased as soon as possible.” His advice is based on a report testing 5G mobile phones. From a Chinese manufacturer release According to the National Cyber Security Center.
The 32-page report details security risks such as personal data leaks, pre-installed apps, and limited freedom of expression. Security flaws were discovered in 5G smartphones manufactured by Chinese tech giants Huawei and Xiaomi.
Xiaomi Corp challenged the report on September 27, saying it was hiring a third-party expert to assess the points raised.
One expert said that security risks are intentional.
Professor Tsuung-Nan Lin of National Taiwan University (NTU) said in an interview with The Epoch Times on September 27 that Huawei is “an influential agent of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).”
“Huawei’s main role is not purely private sector,” he said. “It is a company that has a close relationship with the Chinese Communist Party Army, which is an affiliate of the Chinese government.”
Lin works in NTU’s Department of Electrical and Communication Engineering, with a focus on cybersecurity.
Lin has confirmed that all Chinese smartphones need to be the subject of general suspicion. Leakage of large amounts of consumer privacy information poses significant national security risks, he said.
“Under domestic law, all Chinese companies must report to the Chinese authorities,” Lin said. He warned that a leak of personal information could lead to a transfer to China in certain cases. If a user makes Beijing uncomfortable and lives in a country or region that has an extradition treaty with China, he or she may be brought to justice.
“Chinese-made telecommunications equipment can threaten the security of other end-user countries, so they may leave a hidden back door for the state to meet its needs.”
With widespread use of technology, the Chinese Communist Party could hold down more than a billion people and rival the United States in global hegemony in the 21st century, Lin added.
Luo Ya contributed to this report.
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Frank Yue is a Canadian-based journalist in The Epoch Times, covering news related to China. He also holds a master’s degree in English and literature from Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China.