Recent reports indicate that two U.S. lawmakers are urging the Commerce Department to conduct an investigation into potential security risks associated with OnePlus smartphones. The request, initiated by Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican and chair of the House Committee on China, along with top Democrat Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, stems from concerns over user data collection practices by OnePlus. In their letter to the Commerce Department, which has been reviewed by reliable sources, the lawmakers referenced an analysis from an unnamed firm. This analysis suggests that OnePlus devices may be gathering and transmitting sensitive user data to servers located in China without obtaining proper user consent.
According to their findings, OnePlus phones are sold through prominent retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon, and they operate on various U.S. wireless networks, including T-Mobile and Verizon. The letter emphasized that the data collection could involve extensive personal information, including sensitive details and screenshots. The lawmakers are requesting that the Information and Communications Technology and Services program of the Commerce Department investigates the specific data that OnePlus devices gather from users in the United States. Their focus is on determining if sensitive information is being sent to China without the explicit consent of users.
This situation is particularly concerning for U.S. officials, as the government has identified data transfers from American devices to Chinese servers as a significant national security threat. Recently, the Department of Justice has implemented stringent rules to curtail certain data transactions with China and other nations considered to pose risks. So far, OnePlus has not commented on the investigation, but further inquiries will be made for a response.
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