Spain Bets on China. Huawei Has Access to Confidential Information
The agreement between the Spanish government and Huawei concerns the use of the Chinese company's systems to archive confidential police recordings. It was signed despite persistent warnings about Huawei's close ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Huawei benefits from political ties between Spain and ChinaHuawei has been officially designated a "high-risk" supplier by US and EU intelligence agencies. This, however, hasn't stopped Spain from increasingly engaging the Chinese tech company in public administration and police activities.
Political ties are further exacerbating the controversy. In this case, former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has been implicated for playing a significant role in securing Huawei's early entry into Spain's law enforcement technological infrastructure. Meanwhile, current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez appears to be maintaining a more conciliatory tone towards China, distancing himself from the hardline stance adopted by EU bodies.
Huawei, on the other hand, denies any involvement in espionage or unauthorized access to data. The company asserts that it has no access to content stored on its servers and that every system—regardless of manufacturer—can be secured with appropriate encryption and regulations.
US and EU ban; Spaniards openly embraceBy comparison, the United States maintains a complete ban on Huawei's involvement in telecommunications networks. The European Commission recommended in 2020 that member states exclude high-risk suppliers (which, according to the EC, is Huawei) from deploying 5G networks and other critical systems. Countries such as Germany, France, and Sweden have since introduced bans or severe restrictions on Chinese technology companies.
In Spain, restrictions were not applied to data storage infrastructure, allowing Huawei to maintain its position in one of the most sensitive areas of public administration: the storage of intercepted communications from police and intelligence operations.
An economics journalist with almost 10 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at PAP Biznes, then 300Gospodarka, and since early 2022, WNP.PL. He covers a broad range of finances, and as head of the market department, he writes primarily about the world of capital investments, from gold and stocks to cryptocurrencies.
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