Xiaomi Says Its Devices Do Not Censor Users Following Lithuania Report

China’s Xiaomi stated on Wednesday that its gadgets don’t censor customers’ communications, a day after Lithuania’s Defence Ministry beneficial that customers keep away from Chinese telephones resulting from a censoring characteristic within the smartphone big’s flagship telephone.

The censoring functionality in Xiaomi’s Mi 10T 5G telephone software program has been turned off for the “European Union region” however might be turned on remotely at any time, the National Cyber Security Centre stated in a report on Tuesday.

In a press release despatched to Reuters on Wednesday, Xiaomi spokesman stated its machine “does not censor communications to or from its users”.

“Xiaomi has never and will never restrict or block any personal behaviours of our smartphone users, such as searching, calling, Web browsing or the use of third-party communication software,” the assertion stated.

“Xiaomi fully respects and protects the legal rights of all users,” it added.

The National Cyber Centre’s report additionally stated the Xiaomi telephone was sending encrypted telephone utilization knowledge to a server in Singapore, which might be towards European knowledge rules.

The Xiaomi spokesman stated: “Xiaomi complies with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.”

Deputy Defence Minister Margiris Abukevicius advised Reuters the ministry shared its report with cyber safety officers from different European Union nations and the United States on Wednesday.

According to the report, the phrases probably topic to censorship by the Xiaomi telephone’s system apps, such because the default web browser, embody “Free Tibet”, “Long live Taiwan independence,” and “democracy movement”.

China demanded final month that Lithuania withdraw its ambassador in Beijing and stated it could recall its envoy to Vilnius after Taiwan introduced that its mission in Lithuania could be referred to as the Taiwanese Representative Office.

Taiwanese missions in Europe and the United States use the title of town Taipei, avoiding a reference to the island itself, which China claims as its personal territory.

US President Joe Biden’s nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan final week burdened assist to Lithuania’s prime minister Ingrida Simonyte within the face of strain from China.