- Chinese-made Telstra Tough T55 mobile phone on sale in secure ParlICT portal
- Manufacturer ZTE has links to Chinese Government and may be spying
- Parliament House workers ordered 90 of the $195 handsets last financial year
- Intelligence experts fear they are not safe and may sent China sensitive data
Chinese-made phones may be sending sensitive data from politicians and their staff back to Beijing, intelligence experts fear.
The Telstra Tough T55, made by ZTE which has links to the Chinese Government, is available to buy for $195 on the secure ParlICT portal for Parliament House workers.
Parliamentary Services Department is conducting an urgent review of the phone after 90 handset were ordered last financial year, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The Telstra Tough T55, made by ZTE which has links to the Chinese Government, is available to buy for $195 on the secure ParlICT portal for Parliament House workers
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee in 2012 found ZTE products like the T55 couldn’t be trusted not to be under foreign influence.
Private security firm Kryptowire found some ZTE phones could potentially send data to Chinese intelligence every 72 hours via a backdoor.
Intelligence experts like Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings questioned whether the T55 was appropriate for use by Australian government officials.
Parliamentary Services Department is conducting an urgent review of the phone after 90 handset were ordered last financial year
Private security firm Kryptowire found some ZTE phones could potentially send data to Chinese intelligence every 72 hours via a backdoor
The DPS said devices sold on ParlICT were often ordered for short term use on trips to countries where taking a smartphone was not recommended.
Telstra said it looked into the T55 but would keep making it available to government clients because there were no specific complaints.
Described as a ‘rugged phone’ by ZTE, the T55 features extension back clip such as ID Card recognition, thermal printing and patrol recorder the company said made it ideal for police officers on patrol.