Huawei launched a full-fledged FAQ page addressing some of its most recent scandals from the technology segment, with the company apparently opting for the move because it was overwhelmed with questions and general inquiries on 5G, digital privacy, and other related topics.
The fact sheet in question reiterates a dozen or so arguments Huawei used for dismissing security concerns about its products and services in the past, stating the firm never made questionable decisions on that front and downplaying legitimate reports that would indicate the opposite. Huawei is still insistent to describe itself as a “100-percent employee-owned” entity, though the reality is somewhat more complicated; its shares aren’t transferable in the sense that they can be traded, they can only be issued to employees and are valid for the duration of one’s employment.
The actual process of deciding who gets how many shares at what time and how shares are meant to be redistributed is much more opaque, as are the proceedings taking place when it comes to significant corporate decisions. Huawei has long been criticized for its ties to the Chinese communist government, with its founder Ren Zhengfei being a former officer of the People’s Liberation Army.
The company’s newly launched FAQ page also mentions its recent investments in the cybersecurity space and lists several third-party organizations in charge of verifying the integrity of its solutions. While the FAQ was initially announced by Huawei’s Canadian branch, it’s hosted by the company’s international website and has been worded so as to pertain to all of its operations.
The move comes shortly after the United States, Australia, and New Zealand voted to ban the firm from the context of any state-sponsored use, with the latter two also outlawing its ambitions in the 5G segment. While Washington technically didn’t forbid private wireless carriers to use Huawei tech for rolling out the fifth generation of mobile networks, such a scenario is extremely unlikely anyway.
Huawei has been facing security concerns for close to two decades but those accusations now have more weight, not only because of the firm’s long history of clashes with Western governments but also due to the fact that the Justice Department recently filed over a dozen charges against the Chinese conglomerate, alleging even its top officials have previously been involved in illegal affairs. One of the indicted individuals is Meng Wanzhou, Huawei Chief Financial Officer and one of Mr. Ren’s three children.
She’s accused of setting up an illegal banking scheme that constitutes fraud with the goal of circumventing trade sanctions the Commerce Department placed on Iran. Ms. Meng is presently under a limited house arrest in Canada as she’s fighting the DOJ’s attempt to extradite her.
Canada, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic are just some of the countries that are presently deliberating over a potential ban on Huawei-made 5G equipment and software. The firm remains the largest manufacturer of telecom solutions in the world but the sustainability of that position is now being called into question.