Europe Should Be Afraid of Huawei, EU Tech Official Says

The European Union should be worried about Huawei and other Chinese technology companies because of the risk they pose to the bloc's industry and security, the EU's technology commissioner said on Friday. From a report: 'Do we have to be worried about Huawei or other Chinese companies? Yes, I think we have to be worried about those companies,' Andrus Ansip told a news conference in Brussels, days after a top executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei was arrested in Canada as part of an investigation into alleged bank fraud.

Huawei, which generated $93 billion in revenue last year and is seen as a national champion in China, faces intense scrutiny from many Western nations over its ties to the Chinese government, driven by concerns it could be used by Beijing for spying. Ansip said he was concerned because Chinese technology companies were required to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services, such as on 'mandatory back doors' to allow access to encrypted data.

He also said those companies produce chips that could be used 'to get our secrets.' 'As normal, ordinary people we have to be afraid,' he said, adding he did not have enough information about the recent arrest in Canada.

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