Spanish government official comments on Huawei usage

Spanish government official comments on Huawei usage

The Spanish government has sparked controversy with its decision to award a multimillion euro contract to Huawei for the storage of judicial wiretaps. The move, which involves a €12.3 million contract [1], has drawn sharp criticism from both European and U.S. officials, who question the potential security risks associated with the Chinese technology giant.

A spokesperson for the Spanish Ministry of the Interior stated that the contract complies with the country's cybersecurity regulations and poses no security risk [1]. However, the decision has raised concerns among top lawmakers in the U.S. Senate and House intelligence committees. They have called for a review of intelligence sharing with Spain to ensure that secrets are not being leaked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) [1].

Bart Groothuis, a liberal member of the European Parliament and former senior cybersecurity official at the Dutch Ministry of Defense, expressed his concerns, stating that there are no cybersecurity risk mitigation measures in place to counter the threat of Chinese nationals entering storage and data facilities [1]. German Greens lawmaker Alexandra Geese echoed these sentiments, warning that relying on non-European suppliers in areas like intelligence and law enforcement creates dangerous dependencies and leaves Europe exposed to foreign interference [1].

The Spanish government has clarified that its intelligence agency CNI is not included in the Huawei contract and that Huawei equipment is not used for any classified information [2]. However, the news has put Spain at odds with its allies, who have been increasingly cautious about Chinese technology, particularly Huawei. The recent procurement comes in contrast to Spain's de facto banishment of Huawei from all critical infrastructure, as the company's presence in the 5G cores of the largest three Spanish operators has been reduced to 0% [3].

The European Commission has called for stricter controls on foreign tech vendors, urging the Commission and EU capitals to enshrine strict procurement rules in an upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act [1]. The Commission has been looking for ways to tighten its security policies around the risks of Chinese technology, with an upcoming ICT Supply Chain Toolbox replicating the approach taken on 5G but covering a wider range of critical sectors [1].

The Spanish government's decision to use Huawei for the storage of judicial wiretaps highlights the complex and evolving relationship between European countries and Chinese technology. While Spain has been one of the least combative towards Huawei's presence, the recent procurement has raised questions about the country's commitment to national security and its willingness to adopt strict procurement rules.

References:
[1] https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-huawei-contract-judicial-wiretaps/
[2] https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/spain-confirms-huawei-role-in-wiretap-system--bloomberg-93CH-4142453
[3] https://tech.yahoo.com/business/articles/spanish-government-wants-huawei-monitor-121011197.html