US Accuses OnePlus of Spying on Smartphone Users, Drawing Comparisons to TikTok

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus faces allegations from US authorities of spying on users via their mobile devices, echoing previous concerns raised about the social media platform TikTok and intensifying scrutiny of Chinese tech companies in America.

Heightened Scrutiny on Chinese Tech Firms

The persistent tension between United States and China in the realm of technology has resurfaced, this time with new questions surrounding the smartphone manufacturer OnePlus. Calls for closer examination of the company’s operations in the US come amid ongoing concerns about potential risks tied to Chinese tech giants, a subject that has dominated bilateral relations for years. Notably, previous disputes involving companies such as TikTok and Huawei have set a precedent for how Washington responds to perceived threats involving foreign access to American user data.

OnePlus Under Investigation Spotlight

It was reported by Reuters that two US legislators—Republican John Moolenar and Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi—recently requested that the Department of Commerce (DOC) launch an investigation into OnePlus, which is headquartered in Shenzhen. Their accusation? That the Chinese phone maker may be sending sensitive user information to servers in China, allegedly without consent. According to these lawmakers, they had access to documentation suggesting that OnePlus could be engaging in surveillance activities, including the transfer of personal data and screenshots.

Several elements explain this demand for scrutiny:

Founded back in 2013 by Pete Lau, formerly of Oppo, and Carl Pei, who later launched his own venture, Nothing, OnePlus quickly carved a niche for itself among smartphone enthusiasts worldwide. Now, however, it finds itself facing mounting questions from US authorities.

A Pattern Repeating: Parallels with TikTok and Huawei Cases

Observers will no doubt recall how both TikTok, owned by ByteDance, and telecom giant Huawei, also based in Shenzhen, found themselves at the heart of US regulatory battles over similar issues. In fact, while Huawei faced severe restrictions—including being cut off from Google’s ecosystem during its rise as a leading global smartphone vendor—TikTok was compelled to seek local buyers for its US operations after accusations swirled around privacy violations and alleged espionage.

The situation with OnePlus appears more akin to that of TikTok than Huawei. Both have faced allegations centered on possible breaches of user privacy through data collection practices tied to China. In TikTok’s case, efforts to counter these claims ultimately led to significant operational changes—and an uncertain future in a critical market.

The Broader Context: Data Security at Center Stage

For now, OnePlus awaits further developments as bipartisan calls for investigation gain traction. Whether or not solid evidence emerges remains uncertain; what is clear is that concerns over data security and sovereignty continue to shape tech policy debates on both sides of the Pacific. As scrutiny deepens, companies like OnePlus must now reckon with a regulatory climate shaped as much by geopolitical rivalry as by advances in digital technology.