Facebook bows to pressure and takes apps off Huawei phones

FACEBOOK has blocked Huawei from offering its applications pre-installed on new smartphones, in the continuing trade war between the US and China.

Facebook, plus its brands Whatsapp and Instagram, are no longer available by default on new mobiles, as it works to comply with the US government’s blacklisting following repeated accusations of espionage by Huawei. The suspension will not affect current owners but new users will have to download the apps from Google Play. However, access to that store may also be blocked.

Google, which has been forced to limit the use of its Android operating system on Huawei phones, is among tech firms lobbying the Trump administration to exempt it from a ban on exports to China’s Huawei. It said its focus was on “protecting the security of Google users on the millions of existing Huawei handsets”. Google also argued that a ban on Huawei could compromise national security, according to the Financial Times.

A spokesman said: “We’re engaging with the Department of Commerce to ensure we’re in full compliance with its requirements and temporary licence.”

Michael Wessel, commissioner of the Us-china economic and security review commission, called Google “short-sighted” and said there was “broad and deep lobbying” in the technology community to protect supply chains and relationships.

Experts argue Google could find its dominance in the smartphone market contested if Huawei creates a rival operating system. Emily Taylor, associate fellow at think-tank Chatham House, said: “People have been scratching their heads for years about how to break Google’s position. Trump might have stumbled on the solution.”