Handset firms keep quiet on privacy row
Print Edition
AS Apple resists the United States government in a high-profile standoff over privacy, rival device makers are, for now, keeping a low profile.
Most are Asian companies — the continent produces eight of every 10 smartphones sold around the world — and operate in a complex legal, political and security landscape.
Only China’s Huawei has publicly backed Apple CEO Tim Cook in his fight to resist demands to unlock an encrypted iPhone belonging to one of those who went on a shooting rampage in San Bernardino, California in December.
“We put a lot of investment into privacy, and security protection is key,” Richard Yu, chief executive of Huawei’s consumer business group, told the Mobile World Congress in Spain this week.
He stopped short of saying explicitly that Huawei would adopt the same stance. “Some things the government requires from vendors we cannot do,” he said.
Lenovo Group CEO Yang Yuanqing declined to say whether he backs the Apple position, saying the issue required time and consideration. “Today it happens to Apple, tomorrow it could happen to Lenovo ... We need to take some time,” he said.
Samsung Electronics and Chinese device maker Xiaomi declined to comment, while ZTE Corp did not respond to requests for comments.
South Korean mobile maker LG Electronics said it takes personal privacy and security very seriously, but declined to say whether it had ever worked with any government to insert so-called “backdoors” into its products or whether it had ever been asked to unlock a smartphone.
“Nobody wants to be seen as a roadblock to an investigation,” said a spokesperson for Micromax, India’s biggest local smartphone maker.
“Nobody wants that kind of stigma. We have to take care of both customer security as well as (a) genuine threat to national security.”
The Apple battle may spur regulators in some markets to demand device makers grant them access.
Thailand’s telecoms regulator said it is studying the possibility of having separate agreements with handset makers and social media firms to help extract data from phones.
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