Blacklisted Chinese Cybersecurity Company Qihoo360 Criticizes US for “Irresponsible Action”

Chinese anti-virus software and web browser Qihoo360 has criticized the U.S. after being added to an economic blacklist over allegations that they violated human rights and posed a threat to U.S. national security.

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The U.S. Department of Commerce said last Friday it would add 33 more Chinese companies and institutions to the Entity List which limits their access to purchase products and services from U.S. companies unless local firms require government permission for exports.

“We don’t expect to be included in the entity list,” the cybersecurity company Qihoo360 said on its social media account on Saturday. “We firmly oppose this irresponsible action and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s practice of politicizing business and scientific and technological research and development.”

The company also said being included in the backlist will not have a major impact on its daily operations, nor will it interrupt its ability to provide customers with security services.

Qihoo360 was delisted from the New York Stock Exchange in June 2016, then returned home from the U.S. market through an asset swap and cash injection with Shanghai-listed lift maker SJEC. SJEC changed its stock name to “360 Security Technology” and went public in Shanghai through a back door deal.