US Commerce Secretary raises concerns over security threat posed by Chinese cloud companies such as Huawei Cloud

Gina Raimondo, the Secretary of Commerce in the United States, expressed concerns about the potential security risks posed by Chinese cloud computing companies such as Huawei Cloud and Alibaba Cloud, and she promised to look into a request to include them on an export restriction list.

The Commerce Department also highlighted concerns about the Chinese government’s access to sensitive information held by cloud service providers. The department’s advisory emphasised that US firms should take precautions when using Chinese cloud services and urged them to conduct thorough risk assessments. 

The advisory also warned that using Chinese cloud services could result in the loss of control over proprietary information and intellectual property. The statement further called for increased collaboration between the private sector and the US government to address these concerns. 

The move comes as the US continues to ramp up pressure on Chinese tech firms, citing national security concerns. Meanwhile, China has criticised the US for what it calls ‘discriminatory’ policies and actions towards its companies.