Google reportedly calls Huawei ban a US national security risk
It told the Trump administration Huawei's OS would be more likely to get hacked, according to the Financial Times.
Google wants to be made exempt from the US ban on Huawei, a report said.
Google apparently has warned the Trump administration that its Huawei ban could endanger US national security.
The search giant's senior executives are pushing for an exemption from the Huawei blacklisting that basically banned US companies from doing business with the Chinese company, according to the Financial Times, which cited three anonymous sources.
They're worried that that the ban would stop them from updating Android on Huawei's phones, potentially prompting the company to develop its own version of the operating system, the report said. Huawei's Android alternative -- reportedly called "Hongmeng" -- would be easier to hack, the execs reckon.
Read: Huawei's 'plan B' smartphone OS: What it needs to succeed
"Like other US companies, we're engaging with the Department of Commerce to ensure we're in full compliance with its requirements and temporary licence," a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement responding to the report.
"Our focus is protecting the security of Google users on the millions of existing Huawei handsets in the US and around the world."
President Donald Trump's Huawei ban was based on long-term national security concerns about Huawei's close ties with the Chinese government. Huawei denies that its equipment is used for spying.
Huawei didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
First published at 4:06 a.m.
Updated at 5:15 a.m. PT: Adds more detail, Google comment.
