Google warns of US national security risks from Huawei ban – Financial Times
What happened: Google is pushing the Trump administration to exclude the company from a ban that prevents US firms from doing business with Huawei, according to the Financial Times citing three unnamed sources. Google is concerned that if it is not able to supply updates to its Android operating system (OS) on Huawei phones, the Chinese company will use its own OS, which it is developing. Google says the Android hybrid is likely to contain bugs, making it more vulnerable to hacks and threatening the security of millions of Huawei handsets in the US and worldwide.
Why important: The US government blacklisted Huawei after trade talks with China collapsed in May. Since then, US-based companies, including Google, have banned Huawei and other Chinese companies from using some of their services in order to comply with the law. The US has since granted a 90-day reprieve, giving American companies time to adjust. In response, Huawei has said it is developing its own operating system, which will be able available later this year. In the meantime, senior Google executives have approached the US commerce department, asking for either another extension or to be exempt from the ban altogether.