Two weeks after the suspension of the Android license for Huawei, Google is working to persuade the US government to review its decisions on the Chinese tech company, one of its most important customers for the distribution of the smartphone operating system. According to sources consulted by the Financial Times, several Google executives are trying to convince the Trump administration to avoid a complete ban on Huawei, which could lead to numerous and unforeseen consequences for the national security of the United States itself.
After accusing Huawei of spying on behalf of the Chinese government for months, without bringing any concrete evidence, at the end of May the US government imposed further restrictions, forcing US companies to terminate much of their business relations with the company. China, the second largest smartphone maker in the world. The limitations made it necessary to suspend the Android license, which allowed Huawei to install the version of the operating system managed directly by Google on its smartphones and which gives access to most of its services, including the store from which to download applications.
In the following days, the US government then granted a postponement of the stricter restrictions until July, allowing Huawei to continue providing support and updates for its Android-based smartphones. To date, however, there is no news about the possibility of a further postponement and Google, like other companies with close relations with Huawei, is moving to influence the government's next choices and avoid losing a very important customer.
According to the Financial Times, Google would like to avoid being in a position to no longer be able to provide Android updates to Huawei, leading the company to develop its own alternative version of Android over which it would not have access and control. Not being able to count on Google's availability in terms of developers and security resources, the modified version of Huawei would be less reliable and more exposed to cyber attacks, always claims Google.
In recent days, several company executives have been in contact with officials from the US Department of Commerce, first of all asking for an extension of the provision that is allowing Huawei to continue collaborating with Google until the month of July. Furthermore, requests were made to completely remove the ban decided at the end of May, in order to restore normal commercial relations between the two companies. Similar requests have also been made by manufacturers of components used in smartphones and other Huawei devices, such as those supplied by the US company Qualcomm. These companies fear losing one of their main customers, who buys the components from the United States which they then assemble in China to make smartphones.
If it becomes permanent, Huawei's ban would involve numerous companies in addition to Google and component manufacturers. The same companies that provide online services and applications, for example, may find it difficult to maintain business relationships with Huawei and to roll out their apps on an alternative version of Android. Facebook recently decided to ban the pre-installation of its apps on Huawei devices currently on sale, precisely to avoid problems with the US government.
Google has neither confirmed nor denied the Financial Times article, but provided a brief statement:
Like other US companies, we are in contact with the Department of Commerce to make sure we fully comply with its requirements and handling of the temporary license. Our priority is to protect the safety of Google users on the millions of Huawei smartphones already sold in the United States and around the world.
