Spain faces US and EU confrontation over Huawei relationship

Should Spain be storing secret information with Huawei? EU and US say No, but what’s the story? It is not clear how to get there. It’s that simple. Spain’s deal with Huawei for data is Making Brussels sweat You can also find out more about the following: Washington twitch. Is this a risky move or is it just digital diplomacy for the 21st century?

Spain probably did not expect the diplomatic backlash that would follow its contract with Huawei for the storage of judicial wiretap recordings. In today’s technological battlefield, even a single box of hard drives could set off alarms internationally.

The agreement, which was signed in secret earlier this year, includes Huawei’s OceanStor Dorado hardware. This high-end system of data storage is designed for sensitive information. In Spain’s situation, it will archive legal wiretap recording such as evidence used in organised crime investigations or other digital traces.

It appears to be straightforward. It seems straightforward. But the EU, the US and others think otherwise.

Huawei hardware: red flags all around

The European Commission warned Spain in writing that its relationship to Huawei could violate EU policy. What is the reason? Huawei is listed under the EU cybersecurity framework as a “high risk vendor”, which is meant to protect critical infrastructure against foreign interference.

According to recent reports, the EU is of the opinion that Huawei poses “materially greater risks” for national and regional safety compared to other providers. Spain’s actions are pushing the limits of what is acceptable by EU guidelines.

It’s not the first time Huawei is portrayed as an evil tech company. The company was restricted or even banned in many Western countries. This includes the UK that removed Huawei’s 5G network in 2020. The concern is not with the performance of the technology. Huawei hardware is often praised by users for its high quality. It is unclear whether the Chinese government can exert influence on the company or access its data and systems.

The US has put a stop to intelligence sharing

Washington, not to be outdone by Madrid, reportedly reduced the intelligence sharing with Madrid as a response to Huawei. Although not officially confirmed, the message from US officials is clear. You may be excluded from security discussions if you partner with tech companies sanctioned by the US government.

Spain is in a very difficult situation. The government insists You can also find out more about the following: The deal is legal. It complies with EU laws. Full-time The relevant certification authorities have been consulted. Huawei has also defended its arrangement.

‘Huawei does not have access to customer data. All data stored on hardware is owned by the customer, and only available to them.

Huawei also highlighted the company’s 24-year history of operating in Spain. In that time, there have been no major cybersecurity incidents. The company’s perspective is that it delivers hardware and does not make political statements.

So, what’s being stored?

This is a simple question. Let’s break this down. OceanStor Dorado Series is a series of ultrafast storage systems that are all flash. These systems are designed for speed, reliability and to be able to handle large amounts of data. These features make them ideal for archiving long-term, secure legal recordings.

Although Huawei will not see the data, critics claim that the presence of foreign infrastructure in national systems of security is a threat. What if the vulnerability was not found? What if Spain is forced to replace the current system by a future conflict?

Europe’s digital balance

Under all the tech-talk lies a larger issue: Europe’s struggle for digital autonomy. China is on one side, with its advanced and affordable technologies that come with political baggage. On the opposite side is China, which offers advanced and affordable technology with political baggage. You can learn more about it here. The United States are a close friend, but they also want to dominate Europe’s digital infrastructure.

Some Spanish officials are reported to have said that too much reliance on the US could be equally risky. This concern has Growing up Since Donald Trump The following are some of the most recent and relevant articles. White House Some European leaders are more wary of putting their digital eggs all in one basket.

You can also read more about it here. You can also find out more about the people behind this website. Should Europe have confidence? Perhaps neither. The answer could be to reduce dependence on Washington and Beijing and develop European-made alternative products. This kind of technology independence is still some way off. In the meantime, Spain and other countries must navigate this new digital diplomacy era, where even an ordinary tech contract can cause international tension.

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