Is Huawei stealing and spying on Pakistani data?

Buena Park: California-based software company Business Efficiency Solutions LLC has sued Huawei in California federal court for allegedly stealing its trade secrets following their work together on a project for the Pakistani government.

The allegations from Business Efficiency Solutions

BES LLC also accused the Chinese tech giant in the Wednesday complaint of using its technology to create a “backdoor” that allowed it to collect sensitive data “important to Pakistan’s national security.”

The request for proposal had described the designing of eight software systems which are as follows:

  • Data Exchange System (DES), for storing data from national identity cards, excise and customs, cellular providers, land and tax records, immigration and passport records, and the like.
  • Building Management System (BMS), for managing building security, environmental systems, and access.
  • Resource Management System (RMS), for managing police resources, like vehicles and equipment.
  • Digital Media Forensics Center (DFC), for managing captured video and still imagery from the police network.
  • Learning Management System (LMS), for workforce training and support.
  • Media Monitoring Center (MMC), for monitoring the internet (social media), print, and broadcast.
  • Field Assets, including Mobile Emergency Command and Control Vehicles (ECV), for keeping track of command vehicles, handheld and laptops for field use, body cameras, and covert miniature cameras.
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), for managing industrial-level drones for real-time surveillance.

Moreover, BES’s Huawei was alleged to obtain low-level designs for their systems without actually paying them.

Also Read: UK Bans Huawei 5G Network

What does the complaint say?

The actual allegation reads, “After Huawei had BES’s valuable trade secrets and other intellectual property in its possession, Huawei used its knowledge of BES’s technology to begin secretly procuring certain portions of BES’s software systems from other sources – including from vendors BES identified to Huawei.”

Huawei denies the claim of spying on Pakistani data

However, Huawei on Tuesday released a statement denying allegations that it spied on Pakistan and stole trade secrets, saying there is no evidence of any “backdoor” in its products.

The arbitration process is still ongoing, the company furthermore said, adding that it would not comment on ongoing legal cases. “Huawei respects the intellectual property of others, and there is no evidence Huawei ever implanted any backdoor in our products,” the statement said.

Moreover, the allegations in the suit stem from a long-running legal dispute between the companies, it said.

Also Read: Xiaomi pushes Apple down to become the second-largest smartphone maker

Is your data safe with Huawei?

According to the allegations and statement, looks like the situation is settled. However, self-safety is paramount.

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