Huawei Invites Griezmann To Discuss Accusations Of Spying On Uighur Muslim Minority Residents

Antoine Griezmann (Photo: Antara))

JAKARTA - Chinese technology giant Huawei wants to speak with Barcelona and French star Antoine Griezmann about the Chinese company's human rights record.

The Barcelona striker had previously advertised smartphones made by Huawei but last week broke the tie because of strong allegations that the Chinese company had tested facial recognition software aimed at helping China spy on the Uighur Muslim minority.

Huawei responded to the accusation by inviting Griezmann to discuss and invite to know the company in depth in terms of human rights, equality and discrimination.

"Huawei is against all kinds of discrimination, including using technology to promote ethnic discrimination," the company said in a statement as quoted by Antara from ESPN, Tuesday, December 15.

"We do not create or sell systems that identify people based on their ethnicity and we do not allow the use of our technology to discriminate against or oppress members of our community."

Griezmann himself took the decision after media reports emerged that Huawei had tested software that could help the Chinese government track and oppress Uighurs.

"Following strong suspicions that the Huawei company is contributing to the development of 'Uighur alert' thanks to facial recognition software, I am announcing to immediately end my partnership with the company," Griezmann wrote in an Instagram post on Thursday last week.

This player challenges Huawei to refute the allegations, condemns the repression of Uighurs and uses its influence to raise human rights standards in China.

"We do not and will never support the use of technology to discriminate against vulnerable and marginalized groups," Huawei said.

Huawei, China's first global technology brand and maker of equipment used by telephone and internet companies, is at the center of US-China tensions over technology, security and espionage.

An Associated Press investigation concluded that the Chinese government employed cruel techniques to suppress birth rates among the Uighur minority and other minorities as part of controlling Muslim population growth while at the same time encouraging the majority Han to have many children.