Sign in Subscribe
Political parties

Spain Must Not Allow Huawei Access to Wiretap Data in the EU

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Spanish Ministry of Interior has awarded a significant contract to Huawei, worth EUR12.3 million, to manage information obtained through judicial wiretaps, sparking concerns about the company's ties to the Chinese Communist Party and human rights implications. Article 19, a global freedom of expression movement, is urging the Spanish government to conduct an independent human rights impact assessment and suspend all cooperation with Huawei. The organization emphasizes that allowing Huawei access to sensitive information could lead to censorship and surveillance, violating fundamental freedoms and human rights.

Key Takeaways:

  • Huawei has been awarded a EUR12.3 million contract by the Spanish Ministry of Interior to manage information obtained through judicial wiretaps.
  • The deal raises concerns about the company's ties to the Chinese Communist Party and its compliance with censorship and surveillance demands in Chinese law.
  • ARTICLE 19 is calling on the Spanish government to conduct an independent human rights impact assessment and suspend all cooperation with Huawei.
  • China's laws, including the Counter-Espionage Law and the National Intelligence Law, require companies to cooperate with security organs and investigate espionage, which can be defined broadly.
  • The Cybersecurity Law in China, implemented in 2017, includes requirements for censorship, monitoring, and recording traffic data and providing access to security organs.
  • ARTICLE 19's report on China's transnational repression of protest documents numerous cases across the EU, including in Spain.
  • Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has been favourable to Huawei, defending the company in public and permitting Huawei to operate research centres in Madrid.
  • The European Union's cybersecurity toolbox for risk mitigation measures explicitly calls for prohibition of 'high-risk' suppliers like Huawei.

Statistics:

  • EUR12.3 million: The value of the contract awarded to Huawei by the Spanish Ministry of Interior.
  • 2020: The year in which the Party Central Committee Opinions on Strengthening the United Front Work of the Private Economy in the New Era were issued, directing Chinese companies to safeguard national interests and promote a positive image of the country.
  • 2017: The year in which the Cybersecurity Law in China came into force.
  • 2019: The year in which the UK Cyber Security Centre claimed that the National Intelligence Law could effectively 'compel anyone in China to do anything' to support Chinese security organs.

Sources:

  • ARTICLE 19's report on the human rights implications of Huawei's involvement with Spanish authorities.
  • The Objective, a Spanish newspaper, reporting on the contract between the Spanish Ministry of Interior and Huawei.
  • Le Monde, a French newspaper, reporting on the alleged uploading of confidential network data from the African Union headquarters to Huawei servers in Shanghai.
  • ARTICLE 19's recent report on China's transnational repression of protest.
  • Safeguard Defenders, a Spain-based organization, reporting on China's overseas police stations in Madrid.

Read more