Taiwan has identified 12 smartphone brands that do not conform to privacy standards, and the handset makers could face fines or a ban unless they address the breaches, an official at the telecoms regulator said yesterday.
The government began to review privacy standards two months ago, after media reports said smartphones made by Chinese firm Xiaomi Technology Co Ltd (小米) could be sending user data to its Chinese servers without users’ permission.
National Communications Commission Vice Chairman Yu Hsiao-cheng (虞孝成) did not name any of the 12 brands, but said the investigation found that some of the smartphones could allow manufacturers to collect users’ data without permission.
Others contained “imperfections” which do not conform with the law, Yu said, without elaborating.
The commission’s findings would be released within weeks, he added.
Smartphones from Apple Inc, Samsung Electronics Co and HTC Corp (宏達電) were among the top five bestselling handsets in the nation during the third quarter, according to industry data firm International Data Corp. Xiaomi also said its phones were among the 12 most popular in Taiwan.
Yu said the government would ask the offending brands to modify their handsets. If they refused, the commission could fine the companies up to NT$200 million (US$6.43 million) or ban their handsets from being sold in the nation.
The probe underscores global concerns about data security and the scrutiny Chinese tech firms are subject to as governments become increasingly wary of potential cybersecurity threats from the world’s second-largest economy.
Asked about the probe, Xiaomi said its devices “never actively send any private user information without the users’ approval.”
Taiwan-based HTC said it was working with the local regulator to improve compliance with the required security standards.
Samsung said in an e-mailed statement that it “considers the privacy and security of consumers’ data a top priority.”
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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