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Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
Huawei's paradox in Spain: No to 5G, yes to wiretaps
The Spanish Interior Ministry contracts worth €12.3 million to Chinese tech firm Huawei for the management of the storage of judicial wiretaps. The decision is part of the centralised tenders agreement between 2021 and 2025 and includes the digital custody of interceptions ordered by judges and prosecutors, such as, for example, the Villarejo audios or those provided by the Central Operational Unit (UCO) in the Koldo corruption case. The system used, according to Spanish media outlet 'The Objective', is the Huawei OceanStor 6800 V5, a line of high-performance storage servers that serves as a support to preserve and classify communications legally intercepted by state security forces. The award was processed following the established public procedures and complies with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) security guidelines of the National Cryptologic Centre (CCN-STIC). This is not the first time that Huawei has participated in sensitive Spanish systems. The Asian company has already provided technological support within the legal interception systems (SITEL), which has generated growing unease in sectors of the National Police and the Civil Guard. Internal sources inboth bodies express their concern at what they consider to be a "strategic incongruity" in security matters: while extreme caution is being exercised with foreign programmes, critical data is being entrusted to a company linked to the Chinese Communist Party. The OceanStor model acquired by Spain is a high-end enterprise storage system, designed to manage large volumes of data with high availability. Its main competitive advantage is that it is cheaper than its Western competitors such as Dell EMC, IBM and Hitachi, which has favoured its expansion in several countries. European veto and international pressures The Spanish position contrasts sharply with the European and Western trend. The European Union has intensified pressure on Spain to tighten its regulations against Chinese suppliers following the pact reached by Germany to progressively dismantle Huawei and ZTE's infrastructures. Germany reached an agreement with its main operators (Deutsche Telekom, Telefónica and Vodafone) to phase out these high-risk components. The German regulation sets a replacement schedule that calls for a review of "critical software components" by the end of 2026 and a replacement of "critical functions" by the end of 2029. This German strategy follows that adopted by Portugal, which in June placed bans on all non-EU, NATO and OECD suppliers. Portugal did not block specific companies, but entire nationalities in order to safeguard its networks against security risks. In the EU as a whole, ten countries have already imposed restrictions. The UK and Sweden directly banned Chinese suppliers from their core 5G networks, while France, without making a public list, has excluded all Chinese suppliers from its local companies' networks. Washington and Brussels have been blunt in their stance. Since the Trump era, the US administration has maintained a total veto on Huawei's participation in telecommunications networks. In 2020, the European Commission recommended that its member states exclude "high-risk" providers from 5G deployments. The current state of play in Spain: de facto veto without explicit prohibition Despite the Spanish government's official reluctance to specifically target companies such as Huawei or countries such as China, the reality of the Spanish market has changed dramatically. Telefónica has awarded Nokia the last part of its 5G core, completing the removal of Huawei from critical Spanish networks. This move culminates the unofficial banishment of the Chinese giant from critical telecoms infrastructure in Spain, without the need for an explicit government veto. In 2019, Telefónica had chosen Huawei for its 5G core, but international pressures forced an immediate change of course. The current situation for Spain's big three operators is clear: all have ousted Huawei from their network cores. Telefónica split it between Nokia and Ericsson, Orange awarded it to Ericsson, and Vodafone chose Nokia. Huawei's presence in the 5G cores of the big three Spanish operators has been reduced to 0%. Huawei's exit from the Spanish market has been accelerated not only by corporate decisions but also by public policy. Although it maintains a significant presence in the radio networks of some operators (such as 70% in Vodafone), its exclusion from public support for rural 5G through an indirect veto has been decisive. This government strategy, which requires avoiding "high-risk suppliers" in order to access public funds, led Huawei to file a lawsuit before the Audiencia Nacional. The replacement process requires caution and precision, following a meticulous schedule by phases and regions to avoid service interruptions. A paradox reflecting geopolitical tensions The Spanish case with Huawei has become an example of how geopolitics changes the technological map of a country without the need for outright bans. While the 5G network core, the brain that manages all user connections and data, is considered critical infrastructure for national security, paradoxically, trust in the Chinese company to manage judicial wiretapping is maintained. The Minister of Digital Transformation, José Luis Escrivá, said in a statement to 'The Objective' that Spain has no plans to draw up a list of high-risk suppliers, a prerogative included in the 5G cybersecurity law that two years later has not been developed. This position has a twofold objective: not to single out Chinese suppliers and to maintain a "silver bullet" to act if the geopolitical situation worsens. Diplomatic rapprochement has also been visible. Spain and China have redoubled their cooperation following the landing of electric car manufacturer Chery in Barcelona and with MG sounding out Galicia to set up in Europe. The Spanish government does not want to undermine these investments by targeting Beijing's main technology companies. Pedro Sánchez has been, within the EU, one of the most favourable leaders to Huawei's presence, publicly defending that the company should not be excluded because of its country of origin. This position contrasts with the pressure that Brussels has been exerting on Spain over the last two years, without any visible effect.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
FBI-trained expert explains which body part is the 'most honest' when it comes to lying
Body language is a powerful tool that can provide a wealth of information about a person's thoughts, feelings, and intentions - but some parts of the body are more honest than others, according to an FBI-trained expert. Non-verbal communication is a powerful, frequently underestimated aspect of human interaction. Even when our words are silent, our bodies continuously give away hints through subtle gestures, micro-expressions, and unconscious movements. These involuntary signals can often say more than what we express aloud, says an FBI-trained expert. However, mastering the skill of interpreting these silent cues is no mean feat. It demands years of training, observation, and practice. Yet, with an increasing number of experts sharing their knowledge through books and social media, the public is becoming more conscious of the messages our bodies transmit without us realising. One of the leading figures in this field is Juan Manuel García López, also known as 'Pincho'. Based in Spain and trained by the FBI, Juan Manuel has spent years in the Central Operational Unit (UCO) and has established himself as a top authority on non-verbal communication, reports the Mirror US. With over 4 million followers on TikTok, his fascinating videos simplify body language into practical insights that resonate with viewers globally. In a chat with La Vanguardia, Juan Manuel delved into the nuances of non-verbal communication, asserting that even in silence, we convey messages. "We are always transmitting messages, consciously or unconsciously. A look, a blink, a posture-these all mean something," he said. "When someone stays completely still or overly rigid, it usually indicates fear or that they have something to hide. That's when you need to stir the situation a bit to provoke involuntary reactions that can reveal the truth." He believes these reactions are often physiological responses to emotions such as fear, happiness, or sorrow. "Blushing, dilated pupils, flaring nostrils-these are things we can't control and they immediately give us clues about what someone is feeling or what might happen next," he added. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Juan Manuel noted that while it's possible to master certain body language cues through training, skilled emotional manipulators may feign natural responses to deceive others. "I can use my body language to trick your brain into thinking I feel something I don't. For instance, if I want you to like me, I'll send signals that suggest I like you, activating the principle of reciprocity," he explained. This highlights the importance of detecting discrepancies between verbal statements and physical expressions. He continued: "If I tell you I'm relaxed and happy with you, but my joints are tense and my posture is stiff, there's a clear contradiction. That tension suggests my body isn't aligned with what I'm saying." Juan Manuel contends that feet rank among the most truthful body parts for gauging someone's emotions. Since we seldom attempt to manage our foot movements, they can inadvertently reveal our genuine motives. He explained: "When we try to adjust our body language, we focus on standing straight, controlling our expressions, or limiting hand movements. But we forget our feet." Our feet are pivotal in betraying our feelings - they're often the first to respond when we're inclined to escape or confront a situation. Juan Manuel elaborates: "If I'm standing in front of you but my feet are pointed toward the door, it signals I want to leave whether it's out of fear, urgency, or disinterest. The reason may vary, but the intention is there. It's up to the observer to interpret why." In a world where what's said isn't always what's meant, learning to decode the body's silent language can be an invaluable skill, and thanks to experts like Juan Manuel García López, more people are beginning to understand what remains unspoken.
