U.S. Lawmakers Seek to Block Huawei’s HarmonyOS Outside China

Two U.S. Representatives — John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi — have called on the U.S. administration to work with allies to block the international spread of Huawei's HarmonyOS.

According to a report from HuaweiCentral, the lawmakers argue that the platform poses a cybersecurity threat: through updates, it could be exploited by Chinese intelligence agencies for surveillance and data collection. What makes it particularly concerning is that HarmonyOS is not just used in smartphones, but also in tablets, cars, computers, and smart home devices.

In a letter addressed to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the FCC Chair, the representatives urged a thorough investigation of the system’s architecture and source code. They also called for warning allied countries about the potential risks. The letter highlights that Chinese law requires Huawei to cooperate with intelligence services, raising additional red flags.

The U.S. has already restricted Huawei in several areas — from 5G equipment to banning the supply of American technology. Nevertheless, the company continues to develop HarmonyOS and plans to launch new devices running on it, including PCs and automotive integrations.