Alex Younger: MI6 chief questions China’s role in UK tech sector – BBC News
What happened: Amid concerns about Chinese-made communications infrastructure, Alex Younger, the chief of British intelligence agency MI6, said the country needs to decide how comfortable it is using foreign controlled technology, including 5G hardware supplied by Chinese companies. He said that the UK’s adversaries have been probing its defenses and institutions and that the country’s intelligence agencies need to innovate faster.
Why it’s important: Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE have been facing increased scrutiny abroad. In August, Australia announced it would ban the companies from supplying equipment for its 5G network, citing national security concerns. The US is hoping to take similar steps, while US senators have warned Canada to exclude Huawei from its 5G deployment. Most recently, US lawmakers told the White House that ZTE might have broken a deal with the US following its dealings in Venezuela, which could result in millions in fines.