U.S. lawmakers have expressed concerns over possible security issues related to OnePlus devices, demanding an investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department. This follows allegations that the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is collecting sensitive personal information from users and transmitting it to servers based in China. Representatives John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi have pointed to evidence suggesting that OnePlus devices are gathering data without explicit user consent. The lawmakers are advocating for an inquiry to identify what types of information are being collected.
They indicated that the nature of this data may include sensitive personal details and possibly even screenshots. Their concern stems from an analysis conducted by a commercial entity, which reportedly revealed signs of unwanted data collection from OnePlus devices. The U.S. government’s scrutiny of Chinese tech companies is not new. Similar issues arose with Huawei back in 2020, leading to legal actions against the company for allegations of racketeering and stealing trade secrets.
The controversy surrounding Huawei prompted the Justice Department to act, imposing temporary restrictions that sought to mitigate disruptions to network communications in rural areas. Huawei’s legal attempts to contest the ban were ultimately unsuccessful. In addition, TikTok has been under intense scrutiny for similar reasons, with accusations of data collection practices that raised alarms about user privacy and security. The app, owned by ByteDance, faced claims that U.S. user data was being accessed in China, prompting ongoing debates about its future in the country.
These developments highlight the growing tensions between the U.S. and Chinese technology companies and the increasing focus on user privacy and data security in the digital age.