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Huawei accuses US of using cyberattacks, threats to disrupt business

The Chinese telecom giant didn't provide evidence to support these allegations.

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Huawei accused the US government of using "every tool at its disposal" to disrupt business at the company. 

Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images

Huawei on Tuesday accused the US government of using "unscrupulous" tactics to disrupt the normal business operations of the Chinese telecom giant and its partners. This comes after the Department of Justice reportedly launched new probes into alleged technology theft by Huawei. 

In a press release Tuesday, Huawei said the US is using "every tool at its disposal" to discredit the company and obstruct its business, including "launching cyber attacks" and "sending FBI agents to the homes of Huawei employees" to pressure them to collect information on the company. Huawei also accused the US of instructing law enforcement to threaten and menace its employees, as well as "conspiring" with rival businesses to bring "unsubstantiated accusations against the company."

Huawei didn't provide specific evidence to support these allegations. The company didn't immediately respond to a request for additional comment. 

Huawei also denied that it stole smartphone camera technology and said false allegations shouldn't be considered "rational justification for a criminal investigation by the US Department of Justice."

Over the course of 2019, there's been an upswing in scrutiny of Huawei, with a number of countries banning the use of its networking equipment. In January, the Justice Department unsealed indictments against Huawei that included 23 counts pertaining to the alleged theft of intellectual property, obstruction of justice and fraud related to its alleged evasion of US sanctions against Iran.

The Justice Department said it doesn't comment on specific investigations.

"In all matters, our investigative techniques comply with the law and all subjects of investigations enjoy the same rights to due process afforded by our Constitution and safeguarded by an independent judiciary," said a spokesman in an emailed statement. 

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Originally published Sept. 3, 6:26 a.m. PT.
Update, 9:08 a.m.: Adds comment from Justice Department.