A fragmented Android platform means higher security risks
Google has changed its mind: after initially suspending its business with Huawei, the Mountain View-based tech giant is trying to persuade the Trump Administration to let it continue providing technology to Huawei in the name of US National Security.
According to a report by Financial Times, Google’s argument is that pushing through with the ban will force Huawei to make its own version of Android. This can lead to not just fragmentation, but to higher security risks.
“By stopping it from dealing with Huawei, the US risks creating two kinds of Android operating system: the genuine version and a hybrid one. The hybrid one is likely to have more bugs in it than the Google one, and so could put Huawei phones more at risk of being hacked, not least by China,” Financial Times’ source said.
Huawei is currently on a temporary reprieve, and it has until August 19 before the Shenzen-based company gets banned by the United States—unless the Trump Administration changes its mind.
