Huawei: WSJ story accusing misuse of backdoors is without evidence

Yesterday the Internet was a buzz with comments on the WSJ’s story claiming that Huawei had backdoor access to mobile networks since 2009. Today Huawei has hit back at these claims denying everything and turning the blowtorch on the US government and the CIA.

False allegations by US officials and the @WSJ against #Huawei of planting “backdoors” in mobile phone networks have been nothing but a smokescreen. Watch Huawei VP of Corporate Communications Karl Song deliver our response to the @bopanc “backdoor” story. #HuaweiNews @skybamako pic.twitter.com/ApzLK87aD4

— Huawei (@Huawei) February 12, 2020

According to Huawei’s statement, the US government has been accessing telecom networks worldwide for “quite some time” as “evidenced by the Snowden leaks” and that the US allegations are “nothing but a smokescreen”.

Huawei has never and will never covertly access telecom networks, nor do we have the capability to do so.

Huawei kept on swinging for the fences and attacked the WSJ for its biased reporting — something we do know does happen a lot in the mainstream media in not just the US but here as well:

The Wall Street Journal is clearly aware that the US government can’t provide any evidence to support their allegations, and yet it still chose to repeat the lies being spread by these US officials. This reflects The Wall Street Journal’s bias against Huawei and undermines its credibility.

The backdoors are built into networks as a requirement for “industry-wide lawful interception standards” and the administration and use of lawful interception interfaces is done only by the carriers and regulators. Only those vetted by the government can access the interfaces for these, which are always located in protected premises on the operators side. ie. It is impossible for Huawei to access them, according to Huawei.

Huawei is only an equipment supplier. In this role, accessing customer networks without their authorization and visibility would be impossible. We do not have the ability to bypass carriers, access control, and take data from their networks without being detected by all normal firewalls or security systems.

According to Huawei, the WSJ admits that the US officials cannot provide evidence regarding Huawei accessing these backdoors. If this is true as Huawei suggest it doesn’t take much imagination to think why the US would be airing these allegations without providing proof — they are trying to convince other countries not to use Huawei products in their 5G networks, they are involved in a trade war with China.

Huawei finished their statement with a very strong conclusion:

We are very indignant that the US government has spared no efforts to stigmatize Huawei by using cyber security issues. If the US does discover Huawei’s violations, we again solemnly request the US to disclose specific evidence instead of using the media to spread rumors.

Huawei are making some strong statements and in referencing the CIA and the Snowden leaks have seemingly had enough of this negative publicity and the effect on their business. Remember the US government is yet to provide a single skeric of evidence regarding any wrongdoings by Huawei.

All of this back and forwards is getting tiring. It’s time for the US to put up or shut up.