House passes bill to address spying threats

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House passes bill to address spying threats

The House of Representative on Wednesday passed a bill to address the spying threats posed by the use of untrusted telecommunications equipment made by untrusted foreign nations. It was introduced by Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa. and Del. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, a Republican non-voting delegate for American Samoa, was elected to the House of Representative on Tuesday. The House passed it in a bipartisan 410 - 8 vote, with four lawmakers from each side of the aisle opposing, and the bill now heads to the Senate.

The aim of this bill is simple: To investigate and respond to vulnerabilities caused by Chinese telecommunications companies in United States embassies overseas and among our close allies, Mr. Wild said during a floor debate last week. For far too long, the world has relied on Chinese telecoms giants as vehicles for the Chinese Communist Party to commit horrific human rights violations against the Uyghur people, to conduct mass surveillance and espionage, and to supply technology to other repressive regimes worldwide. Rep. Brian Mast R-Fla. said the Chinese Communist Party, as we all know, weaponizes every tool at its disposal, whether it is intellectual property, a balloon, or a social media app. In addition, it's no surprise that CCP-controlled companies such as Huawei pose risks to our national security and why it's important that we don't allow ourselves or our allies or partners to be duped by the relatively low-cost, state-backed telecom companies like Huawei. It may seem inexpensive, but the cost of living is much higher than many realize, Mast said. You pay by allowing the CCP to control all of your telecommunications data, which, as history has shown, can and will use against you. If enacted, the bill would require the State Department to approve it. to take steps addressing the use of equipment and services provided by foreign entities that the Federal Communications Commission, the FCC, has determined pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security.

Huawei and ZTE, Chinese firms that have been linked to the Chinese Communist Party's espionage and surveillance efforts abroad in addition to assisting the repression of Uyghur minorities and other disfavored groups domestically.

The U.S. government would also be required to on the widespread use of untrusted telecommunications equipment in the networks of U.S. allies and partners and the use of such equipment in U.S. embassies or by embassy staff and personnel. The bill notes that 23% of the telecom device manufacturers used by the State Dept. has been reported. Have a supplier based in Russia or China.

In November 2022, the Federal Communications Commission FCC (FCC) banned the sale of new equipment in the U.S. under the provisions of the Secure Equipment Act of 2021.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned all imports of Huawei and ZTE products. It also urged companies to put on hold sales of communication and surveillance equipment from Dahua, Hikvision, and Hytera.

Several other nations have banned Huawei and ZTE from 5G networks and government procurement, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Taiwan. Some of those countries are also discontinuing Huawei and ZTE technologies that are in existing systems.

Germany is considering banning the two firms, which drew a rebuke from the Chinese government.