Page 24 - AT

A24 TECHNOLOGY
Monday 21 october 2019
Huawei exec: Chinese tech giant wants to be 'transparent'

By ERIC TUCKER what we do and how Hua-
Associated Press wei does, you're more than
WASHINGTON (AP) — A welcome. Anybody."
top executive of Chinese The Trump administration
tech giant Huawei said Fri- has accused Huawei of be-
day that the company is ing a security risk, imposing
prepared to be "open and curbs in May on the com-
transparent" as it looks to pany's access to U.S. tech-
persuade the U.S. govern- nology and components,
ment that it can be trusted including Google's music,
and that national security maps and other smart-
concerns about its technol- phone services. Washing-
ogy are unfounded. ton has delayed enforce-
"The first thing we need to ment and suggested it
do is we need to demys- might allow sales of some
tify this company," Paul U.S. technology.
Scanlan, chief technology In a statement Friday,
officer of Huawei's carrier Commerce Secretary Wil-
business group, said in an bur Ross noted that the de-
interview with The Associ- partment had concluded
ated Press. in May that "Huawei was
"We are a Chinese com- engaged in activities that
pany, we are based in are a threat to U.S. nation-
China, the majority of the Huawei Chief Technology Officer Paul Scanlan, during an interview with the Associated Press in al security and our foreign
people are ethnically Chi- Washington, Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. policy interests.
nese, so there's nothing to Associated Press "Through placing Huawei
say we're not a Chinese tional security concerns components from its smart- "If push comes to shove and over 100 of its non-U.S.
company," he said. But, he threaten to disrupt the phones and network gear and you're put in a cor- affiliates on the Depart-
added, "That doesn't mean company's smartphone and has created its own ner, we're a commercial ment's Entity List, Com-
we have ties to the Chinese and network equipment phone operating system to company — and therefore merce has prevented
government. It doesn't business, with Washing- replace Google's Android if commercial companies American technology from
mean we take money from ton pressuring allies to ban necessary. will take commercial deci- being used by interna-
the Chinese government Huawei, the world's biggest Though the company sions," Scanlan said, later tional 'bad actors' against
in the form of investments. supplier of telecom gear, wants to participate in the adding, "It's a welcome, us or our allies across the
Those things are not true." from new 5G networks. "global supply chain" and perhaps, change to the world," Ross said. "More-
Scanlan spoke as grievanc- Huawei, seeking to reduce would prefer to continue world to have some alter- over, through our actions,
es between China and the reliance on U.S. and other collaborating with Google, native competition." we have made clear that
U.S. remain unresolved de- foreign suppliers, has de- it is also prepared to con- He said Huawei is eager to lying, cheating, and steal-
spite the recent announce- veloped its own line of tinue developing its own "demystify" itself to skepti- ing are not suitable corpo-
ment of a temporary truce chips to power some of its products that could com- cal U.S. authorities and is rate growth strategies."
in the countries' trade war. phones. The company has pete more directly with prepared to invite Ameri- The Justice Department
U.S. sanctions tied to na- also been removing U.S. other companies. can officials to review its has also charged the
software themselves to ad- company with fraud and
New Facebook oversight board dress any concerns. The conspiring to steal trade
company has done the secrets, among other ac-
results to be public, exec says same for the United King- cusations.
dom, where new software Huawei has denied ac-
is inspected at a facility cusations that it facilitates
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and reports are prepared Chinese spying or installs
Associated Press for the government and "backdoors" in its equip-
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A new quasi- telecommunications op- ment for eavesdropping.
independent oversight board will soon erators, he said. Scanlan called those con-
make decisions on some of the most "If this is what is required, cerns "scaremongering."
difficult questions on what material be- give us examples of what Huawei founder Ren
longs on Facebook’s platform in a “very you think would be the rule Zhengfei has said the com-
public way,” an executive for the social- book, and we'll play by the pany is willing to license
media company said Friday. rule book," he added, refer- 5G technology to Ameri-
The board will consider a small number ring to the U.S. "But today can developers as a way
of cases where all appeals of Facebook Director of governance and strategic the challenge is, what's the to increase the company's
decisions have been exhausted, the initiatives Andy Pergam talks during a rule book?" presence in 5G and gen-
company’s director of governance and University of Utah speech Friday, Oct. 18, He added: "You fear what erate license fees and de-
strategic initiatives, Andy Pergam, said 2019, in Salt Lake City. you don't know. The first mand for its products. So
in speech at the University of Utah. Associated Press thing Huawei needs to do far, though, Scanlan said
The board’s decisions and the compa- over a company like Facebook,” he and what we're trying to he hasn't heard of anyone
ny’s responses will be public, he said. said. Board members who are experts in do this year, very specifi- taking the company up on
Its rulings will be binding in individual a range of disciplines from around the cally, is be more open and that suggestion.
cases, but broader policy findings will world will be named December and more transparent — ask "We've not had any serious
be advisory. begin hearing cases in early 2020. any question you'd like, ev- discussions with anybody.
“They’ll do all this in a very public way. The board will begin by weighing users’ ery executive will answer It's a preliminary idea that
This is the mechanism by which the posts and is expected to take on ads it honestly and openly. If Mr. Ren has and has put
board will have lasting policy influence later. q you'd like to come to our out in the market," Scanlan
facilities to have a look at said.q