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Is there any hidden agenda behind this deal with Huawei?
Dear Editor,
A few days ago, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that African governments are using Huawei equipment and technicians to spy on political opponents. Bloggers supporting the opposition in Zambia, a democratic country, are being tracked and arrested. But it is not just the opposition in Zambia that is being tracked, journalists are also targeted. This is a move in the wrong direction for the people of Zambia, a country which was a stable and permissive democracy. Is Guyana on the same track with the rollout of the Huawei facial recognition system?
The WSJ report reveals a sophisticated system for tracking where facial recognition and monitoring of WhatsApp messages are used to track dissenters. The spying is not only using Huawei equipment but Huawei employees help governments in the day to day spying operations. This obviously gives Huawei insight into sensitive operations of the respective government. A video that touches on part of the report can be found here, https://www.wsj.com/video/wsj-investigation-huawei-staff-help-governments-to-spy-on-people/0CE986A8-9975-4CB6-BB9C-031A24540E93.html
A couple of weeks ago, in my letter to the press, I asked if by using the Huawei system we are ceding control to a foreign power. There was no response from the Government of Guyana (GoG) to the many questions I raised in that letter. After reading the WSJ journal article, I have additional questions on what other types of spying capabilities did GoG obtain from Huawei. Does GoG now have the ability to install rogue apps on smart phones to spy on WhatsApp messages and it is able to live trace the mobile phones of Guyanese? Are there Huawei employees in Georgetown reading the text messages of Guyanese reporters?
The WSJ interviewed Steven Feldstein, an expert in digital surveillance, for their investigation. He makes this comment, “The big question has been whether Chinese companies are just in this for the money, or whether they’re pushing a specific kind of surveillance agenda.” He suggests the latter. His comments should make every Guyanese question if the future is one where our citizens cannot protest freely and contentious reports in our widely read newspapers are stifled. Was the parking meter protests one of the last triumphs for Guyanese citizens to demonstrate their rights? Are we destined for a future where our voices cannot be heard in the streets and the press?
GoG is currently deploying a facial recognition system from Huawei. What are the intentions of Huawei and GoG for this system? And, are they aligned? Recall, that CNOOC, a Chinese oil company has rights to the Stabroek Block. That block contains at least 6 billion barrels of oil worth about US$300 billion at US$50 a barrel.
Dr Jan Mangal, the former adviser to the President on petroleum, has suggested we are losing US$60 to $120 billion on the Stabroek contract. If we recoup our loss then one of the big losers will be CNOOC. That amount of money is not pocket change even for a powerful country like China. There are a number of Chinese laws which mandate Chinese organizations, if requested, must comply with intelligence work. Would China instruct Huawei to help quell any Guyanese dissent on the oil contracts?
Darshanand Khusial, Master of Computer Engineering
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