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Huawei probed for security, espionage risk

October 7, 2012 4:33 PM

Chinese telecom giant's pursuit of building the next generation of digital networks in the U.S. prompts outcry in Washington. Steve Kroft reports.

Huawei probed for security, espionage risk

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by psergeant October 15, 2012 4:41 PM EDT
Actually, there is a US company that makes 4G radios - it's called Airspan and it's HQ is in Florida. But it's about the only one after Motorola was bought by NSN, Lucent by Alcatel, and Nortel allowed to go under.
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by bbglow October 13, 2012 8:35 PM EDT
I find the characterization that not allowing China telecommunications to contract within American borders as interfereing with "free" enterprise to be an interesting claim. Does China really encourage "free" enterprise?
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by Corey-T October 11, 2012 7:30 PM EDT
"In China, it's different: the government tells companies what to do. Here in the US, the government calls companies, like Sprint, and *asks* that they do things. So far, they've always said yes..."
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by MacUser_Europe October 10, 2012 12:07 PM EDT
When seeing the whole scenario from Europe, I often hear huge mistrust about Web-cloud based services, based in US and perhaps controlled by paranoid american official and secret services. Our private stuff controlled by american officials!!! Unforgivable and a violation of all democratic rights. (I don't hear voices from the american society about this violation...)
But now perhaps the paranoid Chinese officials and secret services are controlling american citizens private stuff - now we hear responses... It is not forgivable in any case, somebody in 2012 is so extreme mental retarded and full of mistrust, they have to control citizen and companies in own and other countries.

People with very low self-esteem need to control their surroundings. Small Chinese officials, small American officials, small European officials, small African and middle east officials - and secret services - all of them needing control, to feel they are important. Old fashion belief systems are still in place and Rules more important then human beings.

As we stand at the precipice, though on step back also advances....
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by KXB60056 October 10, 2012 11:58 AM EDT
While the report raises some valid concerns about Huawei's activities and potential security risks, how is this any different than from what American companies do? Boeing is a huge aerospace company, and half their business is with the federal government. Major telecom companies such as AT&T and Verizon tapped calls without a warrant because the government told them to do it. Before we start worrying about what the Chinese might do, let's look at what our government and American companies are doing right now.
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by JCleary2012 October 9, 2012 8:17 PM EDT
If you love your country contact rblank@doc.gov. This is the email for Rebecca Blank. Acting US Secretary of Commerce. Tell her we don't want Huawei!!! Tell her Let's keep out foreign competition and create incentives for US technology firms and US manufacturing firms and US small businesses here in the United States of America, for the good of all Americans. Tell Rebecca Blank we want US Companies doing business in America not foreigners. NOT HUAWEI AND CHINESE COMPANIES!!! IF YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY FIGHT FOR HER!!!!!
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by JCleary2012 October 9, 2012 8:08 PM EDT
If you want Huawei out of this country contact US Department of Commerce acting Secretary Rebecca M. Blank (rblank@doc.gov) Tell her Let's keep out foreign competition and create incentives for technology and manufacturing firms and small businesses HERE in the United States of America, for the good of all Americans!! FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!! TELL HER HOW YOU FEEL. (rblank@doc.gov) signed -jcleary2009@gmail.com
IF YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY FIGHT FOR IT!!!!!!
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by voronwae October 9, 2012 3:04 PM EDT
I blame the complete hollowing-out of the American electronics industry only partially on Bush and Clinton. Clinton began this process with oversight, on the premise that it would do more to open up China than starting another Cold War. Bush continued the process, only without any oversight whatsoever (or awareness of what was happening).

But the real part to blame, in the communications arena, is Cisco. Cisco's prices are insane, their support personnel arrogant, their operating system arcane, and their attitude toward competition insipid. Huawei came in with lower prices, and Cisco fought them using the same strategy they've used on all of their other competitors: lawsuits. Lawsuits can only work so well when a company isn't innovating.

Rest in peace 3com, Lucent, Foundry and all the myriad of little companies put out of business or acquired by Cisco.
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by dm1129 October 9, 2012 12:41 PM EDT
For anyone who may find it puzzling to find multiple comments on this forum comparing US government 'control' of US companies to the Chinese Communist government's control in China should look up '50 Cent Party'. You will quickly discover the likely source for these posts. Anyone familiar with the system in China knows that any company, much less a multi-national company involved in a strategic market such as Huawei, exists solely because of its accommodation to the Communist government. Keep in mind that China is economically 'capitalist'(at least in some form), but the political system is not free at all. Huawei must be viewed as an extension the Communist government, because I assure you that is how the Communist government views Huawei.
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by Allanth October 9, 2012 10:17 AM EDT
You are so right about your concerns.
I build a contry wide network using Huawei .
They have a sniffer inside their software and saw every mail ever sent over the network.
Be aware.
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