Another Chiniese smartphone brand may be banned in the US
OnePlus in US may be banned, according to a new report. The long shadow of U.S.-China tech tensions has fallen upon smartphone maker OnePlus, as influential American lawmakers have formally requested the Commerce Department to investigate whether the company’s phones sold in the country pose a national security risk, reports Reuters.
The request, which signals a potentially grave escalation for the popular Chinese brand, was issued by Representative John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Committee on China, and the committee’s leading Democrat, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi. In a letter seen by Reuters, the lawmakers expressed significant concerns over the potential for OnePlus devices to collect and transmit American user data back to servers in China.
This action does not occur in a vacuum, and could lead to OnePlus in US. It follows a well-trodden path of pressure exerted by Washington on Chinese technology firms, most notably Huawei and ZTE. Those companies, once growing players in the U.S., were effectively crippled and expelled from the American market following similar allegations of data security risks and ties to the Chinese government. The aggressive posture has had a chilling effect across the industry, compelling other major Chinese Android brands, such as global giant Xiaomi, to strategically steer clear of the American market altogether, fearing they would be next in line for similar scrutiny.
The lawmakers’ letter points out that OnePlus devices are not a niche product; they are widely available through major U.S. retailers like Best Buy and Amazon and are certified to operate on the networks of wireless carriers including T-Mobile and Verizon.
The crux of their concern stems from an analysis provided to the committee by an unnamed commercial firm. According to the letter, this analysis suggests that OnePlus devices “may collect and send extensive user data, including sensitive personal information and screenshots, to servers in China without the explicit consent of users.”
The committee has asked the Commerce Department to leverage its Information and Communications Technology and Services (ICTS) program to conduct a thorough investigation. The probe’s focus would be to determine precisely what data OnePlus devices collect from users in the U.S. and to verify if sensitive information is being transferred without proper user knowledge or consent.
Will OnePlus in US be banned?
This move aligns perfectly with the U.S. government’s broader, hardline stance that views data transfers from American devices to Chinese servers as an inherent national security threat. This policy was further solidified in April 2025, when the Department of Justice introduced stringent new rules restricting specific data transactions with China and other designated “countries of concern.”
As of this report, OnePlus has not issued a public comment on the looming investigation. The outcome of this probe could not only determine the company’s future in the United States but also serve as a stark reminder to international tech companies of the potent geopolitical risks inherent in the American market.
