German Spy Chief Says Huawei Can’t Be ‘Fully Trusted’ in 5G

  • BND President Kahl expresses skepticism in Chinese vendor
  • Comments signal German decisions on 5G security still open
Bruno KahlPhotographer: Christoph Soeder/picture alliance via Getty Images
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Germany’s spy chief said Huawei Technologies Co. “can’t fully be trusted,” signaling security hardliners in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government want to keep the Chinese technology giant out of the country’s fifth-generation networks.

Bruno Kahl, the president of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, gave public testimony in Berlin Tuesday in which he was asked about the risk level of Huawei’s presence in the expanded 5G network and its ties to the government in Beijing.