US authorities have contacted the Swiss foreign ministry several times in recent weeks to raise concerns about the security risks of using Huawei technology.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/dos
العربية
ar
واشنطن تصعّد من الضغط على برن للتخلي عن تكنولوجيا “هواوي”
According to the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, the US embassy in Bern has confirmed that several conversations have recently taken place about 5G, Huawei, and the risk of espionage.
US authorities say Huawei is legally bound to hand over information to Chinese authorities, and that communications in various other countries – including Switzerland – are thus at risk.
“Allowing the use of Chinese telecommunications technology in the [Swiss] 5G network will lead to an unacceptable risk to national security, critical infrastructure, the private sphere, and human rights,” the US embassy was quoted as saying.
Unlike in Germany, which has also been warned by the US about using Chinese telecoms technology, the Swiss reaction continues to be tepid, the newspaper reports.
The foreign ministry confirmed that various discussions have taken place in the past months on the issue, but it denies having received any “concrete information about espionage”.
Trade war
Sunrise, one of the big three Swiss telecoms operators and the one most closely associated with Huawei in rolling out its 5G network, also said that no clear evidence has been found to suggest the Chinese technology is being used for other purposes.
Rather, Sunrise reiterated what the Swiss Reporting and Analysis Centre for Information Assurance (MELANI) wrote in its current half-year report: the Huawei issue is part of a wider trade battle between the US and China, now being fought out in other countries.
Whether this position by Swiss authorities can last is unclear, the SonntagsZeitung writes: it mentions the case of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), which has allegedly ordered researchers not to use or contact Huawei when they are involved in projects that also use US-made technology.
Such conflicts of interest, driven by the fear of US sanctions, could also soon spread to Swiss businesses, MELANI has warned.
More
More
5G tests Switzerland’s limits on cybersecurity
This content was published on
As more governments mull the risks of working with foreign vendors of 5G networks, eyes are on Switzerland as one of the technology’s early adopters.
This content was published on
The UN Human Rights Council approved the launch of this mechanism in Geneva on Friday, to be followed by an International Commission of Inquiry.
More than 100 wolves shot in Switzerland last year
This content was published on
Swiss hunters legally killed 101 wolves between February 1, 2024, and the end of January 2025. A further six died in accidents or from natural causes.
Swiss health office turns to Bluesky against backdrop of US censorship
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has joined the Bluesky social network, while US President Donald Trump works with X owner Elon Musk to censor content on official US websites.
Biotech company BioVersys is first Swiss IPO of 2025
This content was published on
The Basel-based biotech company BioVersys made the first initial public offering (IPO) of the year in Switzerland on Friday.
Much more spent on Swiss motorway vote campaigns than budgeted
This content was published on
Opponents and supporters of motorway expansion spent over CHF10 million ($11 million) on their campaigns, around a third more than announced in November.
Swiss researchers monitor animal populations with AI microphone
This content was published on
Researchers in Lausanne are using an intelligent microphone to make the animal world audible. The microphone automatically records animal sounds over large areas and analyses them using AI.
Three employees of Swiss aid organisation killed in DRC
This content was published on
Three employees of the Swiss Protestant Reformed Church (Heks) have been killed in an attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). They were on a humanitarian mission in the crisis region.
This content was published on
All our waters today are pure at source," Muriel Lienau, general manager of Nestlé Waters, told AFP after press revelations.
Switzerland concerned about impact of US withdrawal from WHO
This content was published on
Switzerland has expressed concern about the loss of American experts and the freezing of contracts due to the announced withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization (WHO).
This content was published on
A much-awaited expert report on 5G has proven inconclusive, putting the ball back in the court of the federal government and cantons.
This content was published on
As authorities, telecoms companies, and experts struggle to communicate the dangers and merits of 5G, Swiss voters might end up having the last word – even if the issue might seem more technical than politcal.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.