Google warning US government that Huawei ban is a massive security risk
The US Commerce Department issued a ban on US companies dealing with Huawei, causing a whole slew of US companies cutting ties with the Chinese smartphone manufacturer. Without Google, the company can’t use Android services. Without the Wi-Fi Alliance, SD Association, Intel, Qualcomm, and other companies, Huawei simply wouldn’t be able to build phones for the global market.
The government did grant Huawei a 90-day reprieve, but the ban may very well be back in effect soon if things aren’t worked out. However, Google has taken a stand and is warning the Trump administration of potential risks to US national security that the ban could cause.
More specifically, a custom fork of Android created by Huawei to bypass the need for Google’s support would pose a risk of being hacked and exploited. Google seems to believe that this would be a major security risk even for the US since Huawei is currently the second largest smartphone manufacturer on the planet. If Huawei uses a forked version of Android without the extra security features offered by Google with the protection of Google Play Protect, there’s more of a chance that US security could be compromised simply by the number of handsets Huawei has in circulation around the globe.
Realistically, this is likely a panic move as this ban stands to hurt Google just as much if not more than it will hurt Huawei. We’re sure Google and many other US companies are frustrated by this ban and the massive economic effects it will have on US brands and even consumers. Google going straight to the government to protest this ban is no surprise, but it’s another indication that the ban will likely not last.
Source: Financial Times