Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : A wave of concern is sweeping through Washington D.C., as prominent US lawmakers raise serious alarms about the popular smartphone brand OnePlus, questioning whether its devices are secretly transmitting sensitive user data back to servers in China. This escalating concern echoes previous controversies surrounding Chinese tech giants like Huawei and TikTok, highlighting growing worries about national security and user privacy.
The alarm was sounded by a bipartisan group of US lawmakers, including Mike Gallagher (Chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party) and Elise Stefanik, who have publicly expressed their apprehension. Their primary worry stems from China's National Intelligence Law of 2017, which compels any Chinese company, regardless of its global operations, to cooperate with intelligence agencies and provide data when requested. This legal framework creates a significant potential vulnerability for user information.
Reports and concerns suggest that OnePlus devices may be sending sensitive data, including precise location information and various user details, back to servers located within China. This alleged data transfer, if confirmed, would expose American users to potential risks of surveillance and data exploitation by the Chinese state.
OnePlus is a subsidiary of BBK Electronics, a vast Chinese conglomerate that also owns other popular smartphone brands like Oppo, Vivo, and Realme. While OnePlus has not yet officially responded to these specific accusations, the company has faced data privacy scrutiny in the past. Notably, in 2017, an OxygenOS analytics tool was found to be collecting user data without explicit consent, prompting an update and a public apology from the company.
The current call from lawmakers urges a thorough investigation into OnePlus's data practices, potentially leading to restrictions on the sale or use of their devices in the United States. This ongoing debate underscores the intricate challenges of global technology supply chains and the critical importance of safeguarding consumer data in an increasingly interconnected and geopolitically charged world.
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