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Former Google CEO reveals the real reason why the U.S. attacks Huawei

By Alan Friedman

Published: Jun 20, 2020, 1:15 PM

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Huawei

For years now, even dating back to the Obama administration, we've heard the same story about Huawei ad nauseam; the company cannot be trusted because it quietly collects information on consumers and corporations through back doors hidden in its handsets and networking equipment. That data is supposedly sent to Beijing. In 2012, the House Intelligence Committee suggested that Huwaei and ZTE both be banned from the U.S.

Last year, the U.S. Commerce Department put Huawei on its Entity List because of security fears. This listing prevents the company from accessing its U.S. supply chain and forced the manufacturer to scramble to replace Google Mobile Services. Still, Huawei managed to hike its phone shipments by 17% last year to 240 million units and in the process, it surpassed Apple to become the second-largest smartphone manufacturer in the world. Besides moving up to number two globally in handsets, it also is the worldwide leader in delivering networking equipment, an important business to be in when wireless firms are building 5G networks.

Schmidt says that Huawei's routers have shared information with the state.

The U.S. warned its allies last year not to use Huawei equipment in their 5G networks; some listened (Japan, Australia) and some didn't (such as German and the U.K. although the latter is having a change of heart). This year, to tighten the screws some more, the U.S. Commerce Department changed an export rule. Now, any foundry using American technology cannot ship chips to Huawei without first obtaining a license from the U.S. While there never has been any proof that Huawei uses a backdoor planted in its devices for spying purposes, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says that the Chinese manufacturer is a legitimate security threat.

Eric Schmidt in 2016 caught using an Apple iPhone at a Google event

Talking to BBC Radio for an audio documentary, Schmidt said, "There's no question that Huawei has engaged in some practices that are not acceptable in national security." Schmidt now chairs the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Board and states that "There's no question that information from Huawei routers has ultimately ended up in hands that would appear to be the state. However that happened, we're sure it happened."

Huawei has repeatedly denied accusations like the one made by Schmidt. A statement from Victor Zhang, Huawei's U.K. chief, once again denies that the company is close to the communist government in the country. "The allegations made by Eric Schmidt, who now works for the US government, are simply not true and as with similar assertions in the past, are not backed by evidence," Zhang told the BBC. He added that "Huawei is independent from any government, including the Chinese government. Where we do agree, and something we've always said, is that applying standards globally ensures innovation, fosters competition and benefits everyone." However, a law in China could force Huawei to deliver intelligence on consumers and corporations it sells to if requested by the government in Beijing.

Schmidt says that the U.S. needs to produce products that are as good as the ones made by Huawei

While Schmidt seems certain that Huawei has committed some offenses that make it a threat to U.S. national security, he also points out that the real problem that U.S. leaders have with the company is that Huawei is a Chinese company with a name known worldwide that is making better products than its competitors. The former Google and Alphabet executive says that "It's extremely important that we have choices," but punishing the company for its success isn't going to help U.S. consumers. Instead, Schmidt states that "The answer to Huawei...is to compete by having a product and product line that is as good."

Part of the reason why U.S. leaders don't like to see Huawei thrive is because of old prejudices that Schmidt himself admits to having had in his mind. What are these prejudices? "That they're very good at copying things, that they're very good at organizing things, that they throw large numbers of people at it. But they're not going to do anything new. They're very, very good at stealing, if you will, our stuff. Those prejudices need to be thrown out. The Chinese are just as good, and maybe better, in key areas of research and innovation as the West. They're putting more money into it. They are putting it in a different way, it is state-directed in a way that is different from the West. We need to get our act together to compete."

Schmidt points out that the U.S. and China need to work together when it comes to technology and that the U.S. benefits when both countries are working on the same platform. He adds that China has the money, the resources, and the technology to dominate and that "The question is do they operate on global platforms or do they operate on their own platforms? The more segregated the platforms are, the more dangerous it is. It is in the West's interest that every technology platform has Western values in them," Schmidt noted.

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.