Chinese authorities have instructed domestic companies to stop using cybersecurity software produced by about a dozen U.S. and Israeli firms, citing national security concerns, according to two people briefed on the matter.
The affected companies include U.S. firms Broadcom-owned VMware, Palo Alto Networks and Fortinet, as well as Israel’s Check Point Software Technologies, the sources said.
Reuters could not determine how many Chinese companies received the notice, which the sources said was issued in recent days.
Chinese officials are concerned the software could collect sensitive data and transmit it overseas, the sources said. They declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
China’s internet regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not respond to requests for comment. The companies named also did not reply to Reuters inquiries.
The move comes as the United States and China vie for technological dominance amid rising trade and diplomatic tensions. Beijing has stepped up efforts to replace Western technology with domestic alternatives.
While China’s push to build its semiconductor and artificial intelligence sectors has drawn the most attention, it has also sought to phase out Western-made computer equipment and software.
Chinese analysts have said Beijing has grown increasingly concerned that Western technology could be vulnerable to hacking or surveillance by foreign governments.