Germany's IT watchdog has expressed scepticism about calls for a boycott of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, saying it has seen no evidence the firm could use its equipment to spy for Beijing, news weekly Spiegel reported Friday.
"For such serious decisions like a ban, you need proof," the head of Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Arne Schoenbohm, told Spiegel, adding that his agency had no such evidence.
Huawei has faced increasing scrutiny over its alleged links to Chinese intelligence services, prompting countries like the United States, Australia and Japan to block it from building their next-generation, super-fast 5G internet networks.
The US has put pressure on Germany to follow suit, Spiegel wrote.
Schoenbohm said BSI experts had examined Huawei products and components from around the world.
They had also visited Huawei's newly opened lab in Bonn, where German clients can inspect the firm's cyber security measures and the software behind its products.
But some observers raised eyebrows at the BSI's apparent dismissal of cyber security risks concerning Huawei.
"I believe it's wrong to suggest that the concerns about Chinese espionage are unfounded and easy to detect," telecom security expert Ronja Kniep told AFP.
"Even if Huawei has no official relationship with the Chinese government, that doesn't mean Chinese services aren't using the company and its technology as vehicles for espionage."
All three of Germany's main mobile network operators use infrastructure provided by Huawei, Spiegel pointed out.
The Chinese firm is also the brand behind some of Germany's most popular mobile phones.
Explore further:
US urging allies to shun Huawei: WSJ

Nicku
5 / 5 (2) Dec 14, 2018Eikka
3.7 / 5 (3) Dec 14, 2018Especially after Germany has forged so many new trade deals with China. The German auto-industry is drooling to get into the far east after fouling its own reputation in the west.
https://pjmedia.c...ade-war/
xponen
1 / 5 (2) Dec 15, 2018This is especially dubious as the only witness for this claim is only 1 (one) country, which tell all other country what they should think.
There's not even enough corroboration from inside the country itself, with only one source (Bloomberg Tech) airing a single piece about mysterious chip on motherboard that only trending once and none to be heard again.
Soo much for 'leaks' with CNN suddenly airing CGI of "Russian Doll" satellite and Satellite image of "F-117 Nighthawk" on someone's backyard in China.
xponen
1 / 5 (2) Dec 15, 2018it's simply an irrational scaremongering at its best, especially since you know that it never happened.
There, you see? there's real life example in front of your Eye, you are using it, still you can't relate to Huawei?
Da Schneib
5 / 5 (1) Dec 15, 2018Quick refresher: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Da Schneib
not rated yet Dec 15, 2018xponen
not rated yet Dec 15, 2018someone working for central intelligence.
this is not impossible. Mind you, how do you think Edward Snowden can just walk out of NSA & meet people outside of security clearance?
how do you explain the falsification of Intelligence regarding Iraqi Weapon Of Mass Destruction that lead to costly war?
Whydening Gyre
not rated yet Dec 15, 2018I guess my Lenovo laptop is suspect, too....
xponen
not rated yet Dec 15, 2018well in Lenovo case there's civilian security expert who can testify & explain what's wrong with it and the company respond to it.
In Huawei case, nobody speak, no civilian expert elaborate on it, and the company didn't show any reaction either.
really, this isn't flowing the way it used to be, it's suspicious.
Anonym948075
not rated yet Dec 18, 2018