It American Federal Communications Commission (FCC, for its English acronym) on Friday banned Chinese brand devices Huawei Technologies Co. Y ZTE Company. This step is a continuation of efforts to limit the reach and influence of these companies in the state network, which Washington has done for years.

The order released this Friday by the FCC also covers two camera providers, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. and Dahua Technology Co., and two-way radio maker Hytera Communications Corp.

In a statement issued by the Commission, the president of the entity, Jessica Rosenworcelassured that “the FCC is committed to protect our national security guarantee that use unreliable communication equipment within our limits, and we will continue this work.”

“These new rules are an important part of our ongoing action to protect the American people from national security threats related to telecommunications,” he continued, stressing the danger represented by the Chinese company’s presence, according to intelligence from the US.

The vote was unanimous and he easily got the green light. While they apply directly to future equipment purchase authorizations, authorizations that have already been issued can also be revoked.

Commissioner of the Republican Commission, Brendan Carr, said that “as a result of our order, no new equipment from Huawei or ZTE could be approved. And no new equipment from Dahua, Hikvision, or Hytera can be approved unless they assure the FCC that their equipment will not be used for public safety, security of government facilities, and other national security purposes.”

This action means another step in this fight in Washington, which intensified during the presidency donald trump -between 2017 and 2021- and continuing within the current presidential mandate, Joe Biden. Steps have been taken in the past to curb access to information through export controls and banning of key equipment and software.

In addition, last June, Biden had updated a list of Chinese companies whose scope was beyond the reach of local investors.

Meanwhile, a group of US officials proposed limiting the platform tick tockvery popular among young people, but with high suspicion that it is the gateway of Chinese authorities to the data of millions of users.

In turn, in 2018, Congress passed a provision whereby federal agents are barred from purchasing equipment from the five companies indicated by the FCC and instead determined that those companies are not eligible to receive federal subsidies. or do business in that country.

This Thursday, the UK Government is advancing with a similar move, ie its use is prohibited security cameras from Beijing in their ministries and departments of state.

The move reaches an area deemed “sensitive” because, according to British officials, Chinese law obliges Hikvision and Dahua companies to share all collected data with regime authorities.

In the past, the device has been at the center of controversy leading -among other things- to the Minister of Health’s resignation after a video was released from inside his office of him kissing an assistant.

(With information from Bloomberg and AP)

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