U.S. Lawmakers Call for Investigation Into OnePlus Over Potential Data Privacy Violations

In a surprising development, two U.S. House of Representatives members are urging the U.S. Commerce Department to investigate OnePlus, over concerns that its smartphones may be sending user data to Chinese servers without consent.

This comes after a recent analysis shared with the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party suggested that OnePlus devices might be transmitting large amounts of personal data, potentially including sensitive information, to servers in China. Lawmakers are worried that this could be happening without users’ knowledge.

The letter, obtained by Reuters, was signed by Representative John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan, and Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois. They are asking the Commerce Department to consider adding OnePlus to the U.S. Entity List, a designation that restricts access to American-made technology. This move would limit OnePlus’s business operations in the U.S., following in the footsteps of other Chinese firms like Huawei, DJI, and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, which have faced similar actions in the past.

As of now, the Commerce Department has not made any statements on the matter, and OnePlus has not yet addressed the claims publicly. While OnePlus is based in Shenzhen, China, and is owned by BBK Electronics, which also owns Oppo, Vivo, and Realme, the company has made a name for itself in Western markets by offering high-quality smartphones at competitive prices. However, its ties to China continue to raise concerns amid increasing scrutiny of foreign tech companies and their data handling practices, especially in light of growing worries about digital privacy and national security risks.

This investigation request reflects broader concerns in Washington over how foreign tech firms collect, store, and share user data, particularly if these companies are subject to government regulations in their home countries. While it is still unclear whether the Commerce Department will take action, this growing scrutiny highlights the increasing caution toward Chinese tech companies. Moving forward, the focus should be on ensuring that any actions taken are based on clear evidence and due process, to avoid unnecessary regulatory overreach.