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You may only be vaguely familiar with Huawei, the major Chinese tech company that is the focus of attention in the United States.

Huawei is a test of how the U.S. government is trying to keep the country strong, secure, and cutting-edge as the future of technology becomes less American. Huawei could also be an example of American elected officials taking a tough but disorganized stance towards China while leaving their own countries vulnerable in other ways.

On Huawei, let me explain more why the United States is pushing the company and what all this means for Americans and the rest of the world.

Remind me of what Huawei does?

Huawei sells smartphones and equipment that help form the backbone of telephony and internet networks. The company started in the late 1980s and has become one of China’s first truly global corporate successes, reflecting the country’s economic and technological transformation.

The company is a criticism magnet This defrauded foreign competitors, tried evading US law He opposed doing business with Iran and assisted leaders in some countries. to spy on its citizens.

The most serious claim from US government officials is Huawei’s Cannot leave the Chinese People’s Party. The US has said for years that Huawei’s internet equipment can be used as a gateway. The Chinese government is spying on or sabotaging important parts of the internet in future conflicts. Huawei has repeatedly said that these fears are unfounded and has never provided public evidence of the US government’s allegations.

The big Huawei crash:

Until a few years ago there was a stalemate. In many countries other than the USA, companies bought a lot of Huawei internet equipment and people bought most of their smartphones. But in the US, the government mostly kept Huawei products out.

The Trump administration took two steps that changed the status quo.

US officials tried first convincing more countries to retain Huawei internet equipment from the next generation 5G mobile communication networks. Secondly, the US imposed hard Limits to Huawei’s ability to purchase computer chips and other technologies. The Biden administration more or less continued its policies.

Huawei phone sales started in the crater as the company could not acquire the important components and some countries decided Not buying Huawei internet equipment. Huawei’s business is still healthy, but getting sicker. There are other culprits in Huawei’s struggles, but US government policies are a major factor.

What’s the problem?

Most Americans probably don’t care about a foreign company’s pain and Almost no one in Washington wants to go easier on China. or Chinese companies.

But I want Americans to consider whether the policies used against Huawei on our behalf are the most effective uses of government attention and power.

Samm SacksA cyber policy expert at the New America think tank said that US policy towards Huawei is ubiquitous and may be distracting leaders from other vulnerabilities.

He said keeping Huawei equipment out of the heart of the US’s critical infrastructure may be the right step to secure America’s essential communications networks, but government officials need to do much more. Keeping Huawei out hasn’t stopped the growing number of dangerous computer attacks against the US companies and government agencies, hospitals, water systems and energy providers, E.g.

Of course, US policy can overcome these risks. But it has been easier for the US to be tough on China than to address complex issues at home.

“Breaking Huawei hasn’t solved the problem of keeping networks safe and secure,” Sacks said. “I’m just worried that this is a missed opportunity to set more robust security standards.”

He also said why Huawei should not be allowed to buy parts for smartphones that can be sold in France or for Latin American cell phone towers.

Big picture:

For the past half century, many of the world’s most important technologies have been dominated by companies in the United States or allied countries. This is starting to change. TikTok app from a Chinese internet conglomerate has become popular in many countries. (US tried to ban it due to security concerns but he dropped the plans.) Chinese companies have ambitions to sell electric vehicles and green energy technology to more of the world.

The US government will have to figure out how best to respond to technology not designed within its borders. Penalizing individual companies does not seem to solve everything.

Guess what: On Tech is hosting a virtual event with New York Times subscribers on Thursday, November 18. We’ll talk to the CEO of Reddit, Steve Huffman; drag artist, Cage Royale; and others about the secrets of fun, supportive online communities. You can do register here.

Before you go …

• Has your child really gone out (out of breath!)? The video game Roblox, which is a favorite of children, It went offline over the Halloween weekend. My colleague Kellen Browning talked to kids and parents about what Roblox fans do. talking to each other and walking out the door.

• The cultural power of TikTok: The app frequently turns songs into hits. Bloomberg News detailed How a two-year-old tune from Nigerian musician CKay made the leap from TikTok dance routines to one of the most popular tracks on the internet.

• It’s not “beep beep beep”. Amazon delivery trucks vaguely sound like a dying bird when they return. Technology publication Input Mag explains the security science behind this strange sound.

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watch this chameleon and these kitties it seems to vibrate or wobble in sync with electronic music. (Thanks to my colleague Emily Brennan recommendation this instagram account, @animalsandsynthesizers.)