Two US lawmakers, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, requested inquiries about the concern that the company collects user data without permission and sends it to the server in China. Representatives John Mulanar and Raja Krishnamurthy addressed a letter to the US Commerce Department, asking for a review of the security risks generated by OnePlus equipment.
American MPs searched for investigation in OnePlus data practices
According to a report by Reuters, MPs reported that OnePlus smartphone can collect sensitive personal information, including screenshots, without clear user consent. His letter asks the Commerce Department to determine what kind of data the OnePlus collects and how it is handled. He referred to a commercial analysis, which marked the company’s data collection practices as potentially unsafe.
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Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi expressed concern that OnePlus could transfer this individual data to a server controlled by institutions located in China. This concern is between the broader American investigation of Chinese technology companies and handling American consumer data.
This is not the first time the US government has raised questions about Chinese technical firms. In 2020, Huawei faced federal allegations related to force and intellectual property theft. Although Huawei temporarily avoided some trade restrictions, it remained in close observation for national security issues. Similarly, the social media app Tikokok 2022 came into the fire when American officials alleged that it shared sensitive user data with his Chinese -origin company, bordens. At that time, FCC Commissioner Brandon Car said the app collected a large amount of data which appeared accessible in Beijing.
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Impact on consumers and smartphone market
The current call to examine the OnePlus shows whether the data collected by Chinese -owned companies can be accessed by foreign governments. MPs want to confirm whether the OnePlus phone pose a national security risk and wants the government to take action if necessary.
Currently, there is no official confirmation that OnePlus has misused user data. However, this situation highlights data privacy in the US, especially about Chinese technology firms.
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Despite these concerns, OnePlus remains a small player in the US smartphone market, but usually provides features not found in contestants. For example, OnePlus phones often carry battery size and charging speed. OnePlus 13 includes a 6,000mAh battery with fast wired and wireless charging compared to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra, with a 5,000mAh small battery and slow charging options. A possible restriction on OnePlus can reduce consumer options for phones with advanced battery technologies in the US market.
