FCC Should Ban China Telecom Over National Security Risks, Justice Department-Led Review Says – By Matt Keeley (Newsweek) / April 10 2020
Several federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, on Thursday have called on the Federal Communications Commission to revoke China Telecom’s authorization to provide service in the United States.
Six executive branch agencies—the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Defense, State and Commerce, along with the United States Trade Representative—unanimously recommended that the Chinese state-owned telecommunications company be blocked from providing international services involving the United States.
“Today, more than ever, the life of the nation and its people runs on our telecommunications networks,” said John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security said in a press release. “The security of our government and professional communications, as well as of our most private data, depends on our use of trusted partners from nations that share our values and our aspirations for humanity. Today’s action is but our next step in ensuring the integrity of America’s telecommunications systems.”
The relationship with China Telecom endangers national security and law enforcement, according to the agencies. The recommendation alleges that China Telecom inaccurately represented itself to both the public as well as the U.S. government. According to the report, the agencies are concerned about the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) “role in malicious cyber activity targeting the United States” and that “China Telecom is vulnerable to exploitation, influence and control by the PRC government.”
It also says China Telecom gave wrong information to the U.S. government about where its records were stored, “raising questions about who has access to those records.”
The press release announcing the report also says China Telecom did not comply with a 2007 Letter of Assurance—a letter where China Telecom’s outlined their commitments to the DOJ, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the DHS. But the press release did not detail the specifics.
Continue to article: https://www.newsweek.com/fcc-should-ban-china-telecom-over-national-security-risks-justice-department-led-review-says-1497222
