POSTED BY Travis Bortz
Recent reports claim that the United States infiltrated Huawei servers headquartered in China to spy on both the company and government officials. The news was generated from classified NSA documents that were released by whistle-blower Edward Snowden. The claim reports NSA has been hacking into the tech giant’s emails servers since 2009.
Huawei is the second largest provider of network equipment and third biggest phone supplier in the world. It boasts over 150,000 employees in over 150 counties and generates more than $38 billion in annual revenues. The Chinese telecommunications mogul was founded in 1987 by ex-military officer Ren Zhengfei.
The NSA codenamed the operation “Shotgiant”. The objective of the operation was aimed at finding links between Huawei and the People’s Liberation Army, in addition to exploiting Huawei’s technology and conduct surveillance through equipment being sold in foreign countries.
The NSA has declined to comment on the accusations. However, the department released an email statement stating they do not use foreign intelligence capabilities to steal the trade secrets of foreign companies or to enhance their international competiveness. Albeit, the Chinese argue this intelligence has blocked various business transactions with Huawei and companies in the U.S. and/or other American influenced counties in fear of Chinese cyber espionage.
There is clearly a gray area as is relates to international intelligence and spying behavior. As technology continues to advance it is imperative governments across the globe establish a standard of behavior as it relates to conduct in cyberspace. Monitoring activity and ensuring safety is different from perpetrating emails, taking proprietary information and insider intelligence, thus such activity needs to be outlined in an international code of conduct as it relates to cyberspace.
These allegations have put strain on relations between the two countries which were deemed less than desirable to begin. As government spying scandals continue to unravel, the question lies whether this intelligence and such spying is worth the negative impact on international relations? Are our citizens safer? Is our commerce more secure? Time will tell…
