BGI Group has been sanctioned by the U.S. government due to Chinese surveillance concerns. 

(Photo : STR/AFP via Getty Images)
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows samples from people to be tested for the new coronavirus at "Fire Eye" laboratory in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province.

For those who are not familiar with BGI, it is a Chinese genetics analysis organization; one of the biggest genomics companies across the globe. 

The U.S. Commerce Department claimed that BGI's technology might contribute to surveillance against Muslims and other Chinese minorities. 

This could happen if the genetic information database of these ethnic groups to monitor them. 

BGI Group Defends Itself Against Accusations

According to AP News' latest report, the U.S. government added three BGI groups to an entity list.

(Photo : STR/AFP via Getty Images)
This photo taken on February 6, 2020 shows a laboratory technician monitoring samples from people to be tested for the new coronavirus at "Fire Eye" laboratory in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province. - BGI Group, a genome sequencing company based in southern China, said it opened on February 5 a lab in Wuhan able to test up to 10,000 people per day for the virus.

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Those included in this list will have limited access to U.S. technology on human rights or security grounds. 

Companies that were added in the list include BGI Research, BGI Tech Solutions Co., Ltd., and Forensic Genomics International. 

The U.S. government said that they need to get permission before they can access sensitive U.S. technology.  

BGI claimed that the decision of the U.S. government might have been affected by misinformation. 

The genomics company added that they are willing to coordinate with Washington to clarify any misunderstanding. 

Aside from this, BGI Group clarified that its services are only used for scientific and civilian purposes. 

"BGI Group does not condone and would never be involved in any human rights abuses," explained the genome sequencing organization.

Chinese Government Retaliates

Since the U.S. government sanctioned BGI Group, Beijing officials decided to retaliate. 

VOA News reported that the Chinese government created its own "unreliable entity" list.

This list includes foreign companies, such as those in the United States, that could threaten China's national sovereignty, development, and security interests. 

China already added some U.S. companies, such as Raytheon Technologies Corp. and Lockheed Martin Corp. 

Both of these U.S.-backed companies are now barred from importing their products to China, as well as making new investments. 

In other news, China claims that U.S. banning TikTok shows the insecurities of U.S. officials.

We also reported on the new cybersecurity framework of the Biden Administration. 

For more news updates about cybersecurity and privacy threats, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.   

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