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MIT Cuts Funding Ties With Huawei, ZTE Citing US National Security Concerns (scmp.com)

Following similar moves by Stanford, University of California Berkeley and University of Minnesota, Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that it is cutting ties with Huawei and ZTE, citing U.S. national security concerns. "At this time, based on this enhanced review, MIT is not accepting new engagements or renewing existing ones with Huawei and ZTE or their respective subsidiaries due to federal investigations regarding violations of sanction restrictions," Richard Lester, MIT's associate provost, and Maria Zuber, the school's vice-president for research, said in a letter to faculty on Wednesday. The South China Morning Post reports: MIT's move is part of a broader effort to strengthen its vetting of research partners, which may affect relationships with other entities in mainland China, Hong Kong, Russia and Saudi Arabia. "Most recently we have determined that engagements with certain countries -- currently China [including Hong Kong], Russia and Saudi Arabia -- merit additional faculty and administrative review beyond the usual evaluations that all international projects receive," the letter said.

The Protect Our Universities Act, introduced last month by Representative Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, would establish a task force, led by the U.S. Department of Education, to maintain a list of "sensitive" research projects, including those financed by the defense and energy departments and U.S. intelligence agencies. The proposed body would monitor foreign student participation in those projects. Students with past or current Chinese citizenship would not be allowed access to the projects without a waiver from the director of national intelligence. The Act also calls for the intelligence director to create a list of foreign entities that "pose a threat of espionage with respect to sensitive research," and stipulates that Huawei and ZTE be included.

9 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. Saudi Arabia? by Gabest · · Score: 4, Interesting

    US exports weapons to Saudi Arabia. What could be worse, a few routers?

  2. Re:need to know basis by Freischutz · · Score: 2, Insightful

    even though we have no proof, i think it's becoming clear there is something to all this (where there is smoke, there is fire). but people in the know, don't want to share what they know.

    Yes, but your unproven assumption that Huawei is spying for the Chinese government is predicated on the fact that Trump and his administration is taking action on something that isn't a conspiracy theory based on rational thought, reliable data and rock hard probable facts. However, this simply flies in the face of everything we know about the Trump administration. I think that if there was a shred of proof that China is using Huawei to spy on the ROW Trump would have tweeted the proof of it before his first intelligence briefing on the subject was over.

  3. Not like the Chinese build islands in the ocean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hey, it's not like the Chinese do hyperagressive shit like build islands in the middle of the ocean and then claim international waters as Chinese territory!

    Oh, wait...

  4. Re:Ridiculous childish trade war by Freischutz · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's like the USA, holder of more nukes than everyone else combined, accusing Iraq of biilding a nuke all over again.

    Yeah, I am certain that Huawei has backdoor. *Even* if they'd actually be unaware of them. If I was under Chinese government power, I'd avoid them like the plague.

    But I'm not in China. I'm under US government power. So my goal is to avoid *their* spying and terrorism. Which means avoiding Cisco like the plague!

    But that's beside the point, isn't it? Because it is the ridiculous blatant childish bickering and basically begging to be followed by the USA that is currently making it a global joke, and having the EU, for the very first time, say "No!". If China was acting *that* childish, nobod would accept them anymore either.

    By the way: Why does the US not just make China look that ridiculous? Oh wait! That would require competent leadership!

    Anyway... Thanks Trump! For finally ending the reign of the world bully " USA" on a BWAHAHAHAHA! :D

    Niptick, Russia is the king of nukes with 4,350 usable nuclear warheads, while the United States comes in second at 3,800 usable nuclear warheads a fact that seems to have given Prez. Trump an inferiority complex.. Both have over 6000 warheads if you count ones that are in storage and not easily made combat ready and both countries keep about 1600 of their warheads instantly deployable. Neither country has more nukes than the rest of the world combined but Russia is a bit closer though.

  5. Re:need to know basis by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    even though we have no proof, i think it's becoming clear there is something to all this (where there is smoke, there is fire). but people in the know, don't want to share what they know.

    Yes, but your unproven assumption that Huawei is spying for the Chinese government is predicated on the fact that Trump and his administration is taking action on something that isn't a conspiracy theory based on rational thought, reliable data and rock hard probable facts. However, this simply flies in the face of everything we know about the Trump administration.

    MIT is definitely not the Trump Administration. And while we don't know details, a lot of Universities are quite capable of doing competent computer investigations.

    So while the shills are taking the usual shitfits any time Huawai is mentioned, this is not the present administration, this is a very competent University, that almost certainly can back up their position.

    Note to the shills - Seriously, your flooding the group with Anti-American propaganda any time Huawai is mentioned is kinda a dead giveaway. No discussion, nothing except 'Murrica BAD!

    Now for the shillls with mod points to bury this post.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  6. Queue the ACs by dcw3 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Let's count how many ACs come to the defense of China now.

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  7. Re:need to know basis by Freischutz · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just because you keep saying there isn't proof doesn't mean that its true. These Chinese firms have been caught on more than one occasion red handed already. How many times does it take before you admit they are either letting their masters do what they want or are outright malicious themselves? At this point there doesn't even have to be a new specific exploit or issue, the long history of active attempts by the Chinese to steal our secrets is reason enough to cut them out of any critical systems.

    I keep saying ??? I didn't say there was no proof he did:

    even though we have no proof, i think it's becoming clear there is something to all this...

    Yes, but your unproven assumption that Huawei is spying for the Chinese government...

    ... and US firms have been caught red handed conducting industrial espionage too, sometimes with the help of the US government and its three letter agencies. China has a shorter history of stealing our secrets than the US does so why, pray tell, should I trust the US any more than the Chinese?

  8. Re:Routers are Worse by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

    Do you seriously think Iran could project that much force? Even if they had nuclear weapons, they're in a neighborhood crowded with nukes. Israel, at the very least, could wipe Tehran off the map, and while Russia has a part time role as good buddy to Iran, I doubt very much the Kremlin would look fondly on Iran conquering the Middle East.

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  9. Re:need to know basis by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 2

    Oooo, I'm a shill now.

    Yeah, read though all of the posts. Hardly a word about Huawei, and post after post after post about 'Murica. Textbook shill. Although if you aren't a shill, you are what we call a useful idiot, one who participates in trying to make this about 'murrica, and not one bit about Huawei.

    So anyhow, buy one, and put economic sensitive information on it? Tell your emplopyer that since it a Huawei, you know it is safe.

    Quickly my shilly shill, make it about 'murrica.

    BTW, this is classic textbook deflection on your part along with the other shills. Change the subject. Get people arguing about something else.

    Me?I'm just happy trolling you, Shill out.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.