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Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

wsj.com

11–20 of 84 posts

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#11
TDLR; Company owned by oppressive regime helps other oppressive regimes prosper in exchange for unfetted access to the countries resources.

There is news here. But its not about spying.

https://greenworldwarriors.com/2019/03/06/ugandas-main-asset...

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2134438/chin...

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#12

>A pop star turned political sensation, Bobi Wine, had returned from Washington with U.S. backing for his opposition movement, and Uganda’s cyber-surveillance unit had strict orders to intercept his encrypted communications, using the broad powers of a 2010 law that gives the government the ability “to secure its multidimensional interests.” I suspect that most countries would try to intercept the communications of a…

>I suspect that most countries would try to intercept the communications of an opposition candidate that was openly backed by a foreign power

We still haven't seen the Trump-Russia/KSA/UAE intercepts…

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#13
Huawei will likely become the main competition for NSO group and companies like it, but that's the least of the worlds worries.

Governments with resource wealth don't need large public services that would operate a sophisticated intelligence service, so they outsource it. So far these governments have been doing point targeting against dissidents w/ mercenary surveillance companies, but it's possible these companies are about to be steamrolled by one that implements their products as a free feature of their entire infrastructure.

The bargain will be, we'll support your campaign/coup and modernize your infrastructure for your people, while giving you intel we collect on your dissidents and opposition. Then, once Huawei infrastructure is ensconced, no government will get into power who does not have support from China. A very "harmonious," cycle. Want be be elected again? Secure our rights to extract rare earth minerals. Etc.

The company is a projection of Chinese state power, not unlike western telcoms with 5EYES and the ITU has been. The difference is the Party lacks the sentimentality of western countries when it comes to issues of total surveillance and intervention to maintain control. (Albeit, we have never been above supporting butchers either, so YMMV.)

My prediction is that once the Huawei gear is in place, a country's political class will turn to face east on policy and resource questions. It's pure leverage. Western tech companies can't make the same promises to those governments either. It's not like Google can promise to prop up the next Idi Amin, but Huawei doesn't have that constraint. So far, the world has been content to deal with the devil it knows.

Anyway, I'd say this article is an anecdote of a larger geopolitical shift. Containing Huawei should be a national security priority for everyone, but tbh, it's looking more and more like our respective mere leviathans have become oversized, slow moving prey for their hydra.

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#16

Huawei will likely become the main competition for NSO group and companies like it, but that's the least of the worlds worries. Governments with resource wealth don't need large public services that would operate a sophisticated intelligence service, so they outsource it. So far these governments have been doing point targeting against dissidents w/ mercenary surveillance companies, but it's possible these companies…

> It's not like Google can promise to prop up the next Idi Amin

I wish this were the case, but western companies are constantly supplying both software and hardware to repressive regimes. Hell, weapons!

Though the fact that we believe that western tech companies can't make those promises means that there's at least public support for making this a reality

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#17
The best way to stop companies doing unethical things like this is to vote with your wallet, buy your stuff elsewhere. Use a good online list to pre-screen companies before you buy from them like https://www.ethical.org.au/3.4.2/get-informed/boycotts-criti...

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#18

Huawei will likely become the main competition for NSO group and companies like it, but that's the least of the worlds worries. Governments with resource wealth don't need large public services that would operate a sophisticated intelligence service, so they outsource it. So far these governments have been doing point targeting against dissidents w/ mercenary surveillance companies, but it's possible these companies…

What you said about Huawei is more applicable to Boeing, which sells weapon systems instead of telecom gears. You may want to look at how US companies are involved in arm sales to Saudi.

It’s fair that US wants to contain China’s leverage in Africa and maintain its own, but this is a national security priority for US , not “everyone”.

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#19
post #11

TDLR; Company owned by oppressive regime helps other oppressive regimes prosper in exchange for unfetted access to the countries resources. There is news here. But its not about spying. https://greenworldwarriors.com/2019/03/06/ugandas-main-asset... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2134438/chin...

Shocking that Israel barely gets a mention in this article (you know, the actual supplier of the surveillance tech used).

So we just ignore that Israeli companies sell spy tech to every corrupt government on the planet and instead focus on demonizing Huawei giving Africans cheap 5G?

Trade war inspired reporting, not surprising coming from the Murdoch rag WSJ.

Re: Huawei Technicians Helped African Governments Spy on Political Opponents

#20

Huawei will likely become the main competition for NSO group and companies like it, but that's the least of the worlds worries. Governments with resource wealth don't need large public services that would operate a sophisticated intelligence service, so they outsource it. So far these governments have been doing point targeting against dissidents w/ mercenary surveillance companies, but it's possible these companies…

google did create apps for opponents of assad, you know the people who were trying to impose a theocratic state in syria, in contrast to brutish but secular assad, and enslaved women from other religious groups, among other atrocities.
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