Huawei's logo. (AI-generated image)
[People News] Huawei is in trouble once again.
On September 10, a man named Zhang from Jinan, Shandong, posted that his mother suddenly suffered a myocardial infarction in the early hours of August 30. His father attempted to call 120 using the Huawei Honor X70 but accidentally activated the "Magic Picture Report" full-screen interface while trying to unlock the phone.
The exit button for this interface is not only hidden but also frequently triggers advertisement pop-ups. The father, who has sequelae from a previous cerebral infarction, found it difficult to operate the device and ultimately had to seek help from neighbors, which delayed critical rescue time, leading to his mother's unfortunate passing. The post quickly gained traction, with numerous users confirming through tests that even a slight sliding deviation during unlocking would activate this function, and exiting requires clicking a tiny button in the corner, with the closure path buried deep within multiple layers of menus, making it extremely unfriendly for the elderly. Zhang called on society and relevant authorities to pay attention to this issue and enhance regulation. The incident has drawn significant online attention.
However, the situation reversed at an astonishing speed, with Huawei's response capabilities matching, if not exceeding, its ability to create controversy.
On the 11th, the narrative took a dramatic turn. The involved parties met face-to-face with Honor, and in the presence of a third-party witness, they retracted their statement: the father had made several normal calls during the incident, and system logs indicated that the "Magic Picture Report" was not accessed at the critical time. The individual acknowledged a misunderstanding due to emotional distress, stating that some of the information was inconsistent with the facts, and apologized to the brand. Honor subsequently issued a statement expressing condolences for the individual's mother's passing, but noted that the post was inconsistent with the facts and had harmed the brand; considering the individual's circumstances, and out of humanitarian concern, they would "not pursue the matter further."
What a case of "no accountability"! The bully has suddenly transformed into a humanitarian figure, exuding an aura of mercy and compassion. This is more jarring than any apology. When an ordinary consumer, mourning the loss of a loved one, questions the product in a post, the brand's immediate response is not to thoroughly examine design flaws or publicly announce a timeline for improvements. Instead, they first label the situation as "inconsistent with the facts and causing harm," and then condescend to offer a so-called "humanitarian grace." Some netizens have revealed that the so-called third party who witnessed the incident was actually a police officer from the victim's local police station. The group knocked on the victim's door the following day, and while we need not elaborate on what happened next, it is clear to everyone, and netizens' speculations are not unfounded.
Additionally, some netizens have disclosed that previously, a consumer of Huawei cars posted a complaint about Huawei, and the legal department of Huawei openly threatened them, stating: "Please delete the video infringing on Huawei. If there are issues with the car, go to after-sales service; do not spark discussions on social media that could lead to negative public opinion consequences that you cannot handle. In the age of big data, who are you, where are you, and what are you doing? We know more than you do, and you are well aware of our methods!"
The moment when rights protection becomes a subject of concern sees questioners shifting from victims to potential offenders and social threats. This transformation of identity is viewed as excessively fantastical and unlikely to happen in any normal country, yet it is a familiar narrative in the domestic consumer electronics industry. When consumers express their grievances on social media, they are quickly met with public relations interventions from domestic brands, legal notices, and even proactive 'coordination' from local law enforcement. The outcome of such resistance often leads to accusations of 'provoking trouble' or potential defamation claims that could amount to hundreds of thousands or even millions, which understandably deters ordinary individuals from pursuing their rights, leading them to compromise. Under the pressure of the socialist iron fist, the avenues for rights protection are completely obstructed, and the path to maintaining stability becomes the default response.
The prevalence of opening screen ads, lock screen information feeds, and forced recommendations in domestic smartphones fundamentally aims to capture users' attention, turning them into passive commodities, as advertising revenue directly supports low-cost hardware competition and content operations. Additionally, many rogue applications are directly linked to online fraud platforms that specifically target the elderly. While younger individuals can quickly navigate pop-up ads, older adults often find themselves overwhelmed and confused by the barrage of flashy advertisements, left staring blankly. Consequently, tools that should serve people have morphed into platforms that can obstruct paths at any moment, even posing risks to wealth and life. In contrast, users abroad rarely face this kind of relentless, rogue system-level advertising bombardment, as regulatory frameworks in mature markets and consumers voting with their feet swiftly penalize such negative experiences.
There are claims circulating among netizens that "the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology internally indicated that last year, 400,000 people died due to untimely phone calls." While this figure cannot be verified, there are numerous factual cases that illustrate the issue. For instance, a woman in Shenzhen called the fire department and uploaded a video, only to be delayed by a pop-up from her browser, highlighting a common problem. Life-saving channels are being eroded by commercial interests, and instead of strengthening regulations to protect consumer rights, relevant authorities side with the wrongdoers, misusing public power to shield them while punishing the victims. This approach of addressing only those who raise concerns has become the standard procedure for the Chinese government in dealing with social issues.
The domestic electric vehicle industry is even more advanced in this regard. When consumers and repair workers raise complaints about quality or service, voicing their concerns on public platforms often leads to legal threats or even visits from police officers for discussions. At best, they may face post deletions and forced apologies; at worst, they could be subjected to significant claims for reputational damages. The channels for complaints exist only in name, while the logic of maintaining stability is pervasive. Behind every domestic smartphone and electric vehicle is a powerful nation, where grand narratives, local interests, and suppression of public opinion create a perfect closed loop. Individuals seeking to assert their rights must not only consider reputational costs but also weigh economic and personal safety risks, as a single letter from a brand can lead to financial ruin and social disappearance.
This situation is not merely a 'product defect' or a 'one-time misunderstanding.' It reveals the algorithm of national political accounts that underpins commercial interests, where user safety is reduced to a mere absurdity in advertising. Once you make a purchase driven by patriotic sentiment and currency, user safety becomes irrelevant; instead, national security, brand reputation, and the systematic measures for maintaining stability become the true necessities.
In a political environment that frequently claims to be 'people-centered,' mobile phone advertisements can unapologetically obstruct emergency calls; in an era that prioritizes 'high-quality development,' consumer rights protection often turns into a target for stability maintenance. The covert suppression following the indirect harm caused by Huawei's phones illustrates the enduring truth behind domestic brands surviving through countless challenges.
To govern is to serve the people; the next individual who might find themselves blocked from life-saving access by the powerful nation could very well be you or me.
(First published in People News) △
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