Huawei lashes out at Estonia for ‘unfounded’ security claims

FILE - In this May 29, 2019, file photo, a man uses his smartphone outside of a shop selling Huawei products at a shopping mall in Beijing. The New York Times reports the Trump administration plans to issue licenses to U.S. companies to supply “non-sensitive goods” to Chinese tech giant Huawei in a move that might help to cool tensions ahead of trade talks. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

HELSINKI — Chinese telecom company Huawei has criticized the Estonian government and media for spreading what it says are “arbitrary and unfounded” allegations about cybersecurity risks related to the company’s mobile phones.

Hong Yang, head of Huawei’s Baltic consumer business, said in a statement Tuesday that the company “is always ready to defend its rights and interests in a situation where any party is spreading baseless rumours and malicious libel.”

He referred to an Estonian television program aired in September that discussed the issue in detail. In it, Foreign Trade and Technology Minister Kert Kingo spoke about alleged security risks with Huawei phones.

It later was reported that Kinko used a Huawei handset as a work phone, and her ministry announced Wednesday that it has now been replaced by an Apple iPhone.

The Associated Press