Xiaomi Says Its Devices Do Not Censor Users Following Lithuania Report

"Xiaomi has never and will never restrict or block any personal behaviours of our smartphone users,” the company said.

By Reuters | Updated: 23 September 2021 12:16 IST

Xiaomi Says Its Devices Do Not Censor Users Following Lithuania Report

Censoring capability in Xiaomi's Mi 10T 5G phone software has been turned off for European Union region

Highlights

Xiaomi spokesman said its device does not censor communications
Report also said the Xiaomi phone was sending encrypted phone usage data
China demanded last month that Lithuania withdraw its ambassador

China's Xiaomi said on Wednesday that its devices do not censor users' communications, a day after Lithuania's Defence Ministry recommended that consumers avoid Chinese phones due to a censoring feature in the smartphone giant's flagship phone.

The censoring capability in Xiaomi's Mi 10T 5G phone software has been turned off for the "European Union region" but can be turned on remotely at any time, the National Cyber Security Centre said in a report on Tuesday.

In a statement sent to Reuters on Wednesday, Xiaomi spokesman said its device "does not censor communications to or from its users".

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"Xiaomi has never and will never restrict or block any personal behaviours of our smartphone users, such as searching, calling, Web browsing or the use of third-party communication software," the statement said.

"Xiaomi fully respects and protects the legal rights of all users," it added.

The National Cyber Centre's report also said the Xiaomi phone was sending encrypted phone usage data to a server in Singapore, which could be against European data regulations.

Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro Review

The Xiaomi spokesman said: "Xiaomi complies with the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation."

Deputy Defence Minister Margiris Abukevicius told Reuters the ministry shared its report with cyber security officials from other European Union nations and the United States on Wednesday.

According to the report, the terms potentially subject to censorship by the Xiaomi phone's system apps, such as the default internet browser, include "Free Tibet", "Long live Taiwan independence," and "democracy movement".

China demanded last month that Lithuania withdraw its ambassador in Beijing and said it would recall its envoy to Vilnius after Taiwan announced that its mission in Lithuania would be called the Taiwanese Representative Office.

Taiwanese missions in Europe and the United States use the name of the city Taipei, avoiding a reference to the island itself, which China claims as its own territory.

US President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan last week stressed support to Lithuania's prime minister Ingrida Simonyte in the face of pressure from China.

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Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
144Hz refresh rate display
Very good performance
Quick face recognition
Good cameras

Bad
Lacks wireless charging, IP rating
Gets warm easily
Spammy notifications

Read detailed Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G review

Display 6.67-inch

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 865

Front Camera 20-megapixel

Rear Camera 108-megapixel + 13-megapixel + 5-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 5000mAh

OS Android 10

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

More Xiaomi mobiles Xiaomi mobiles price in India

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