Controversies[edit]

NSN's provision of intercept capability to Iran[edit]

In 2008, Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint venture between Nokia and Siemens AG, reportedly
provided Iran's monopoly telecom company with technology that allowed it to intercept the Internet
communications of its citizens.[268] The technology reportedly allowed Iran to use deep packet
inspection to read and change the content of emails, social media, and online phone calls. The
technology "enables authorities to not only block communication but to monitor it to gather
information about individuals, as well as alter it for disinformation purposes". [269]
During the post-election protests in Iran in June 2009, Iran's Internet access was reported to have
slowed to less than a tenth of its normal speeds, which experts suspected was due to using of deep
packet inspection.[270]
In July 2009, Nokia began to experience a boycott of their products and services in Iran. The boycott
was led by consumers sympathetic to the post-election protest movement and targeted companies
deemed to be collaborating with the regime. Demand for handsets fell and users began
shunning SMS messaging.[271]
Nokia Siemens Networks asserted in a press release that it provided Iran only with a "lawful
intercept capability solely for monitoring of local voice calls" and that it "has not provided any deep
packet inspection, web censorship, or Internet filtering capability to Iran". [272]
Nokia–Apple patent dispute[edit]
In October 2009, Nokia filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. in the U.S. District Court of
Delaware claiming that Apple infringed on 10 of its patents related to wireless communication
including data transfer.[273] Apple was quick to respond with a countersuit filed in December 2009
accusing Nokia of 11 patent infringements. Apple's general counsel, Bruce Sewell went a step
further by stating, "Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not
just by stealing ours." This resulted in a legal battle between the two telecom majors with Nokia filing
another suit, this time with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), alleging Apple had
infringed its patents in "virtually all of its mobile phones, portable music players and computers".
[274]
Nokia went on to ask the court to ban all U.S. imports of the Apple products, including
the iPhone, Macintosh and iPod. Apple countersued by filing a complaint with the ITC in January
2010.[273]
In June 2011, Apple settled with Nokia and agreed to an estimated one time payment of $600 million
and royalties to Nokia.[275] The two companies also agreed on a cross-licensing patents for some of
their patented technologies.[276][277]
Alleged tax evasion in India[edit]
Nokia's Indian subsidiary was charged in January 2013 with non-payment of Indian Tax Deducted at
Source and transgressing transfer pricing norms in India.[278] The unpaid TDS of ₹30 billion, accrued
during a course of six years, was due to royalty paid by the Indian subsidiary to its parent company.
[279]

Nokia 7 Plus data breach[edit]

In March 2019, news broke that the company's Nokia 7 Plus phones were allegedly sending
personal user data to China over several months. According to investigators, the gadget sent
unencrypted data packages including geographical location, SIM card number, and the phone's
serial number to an unidentified Chinese server every time that "the phone was turned on, the
screen activated or unlocked."[280] The data was sufficient to follow the movements and actions of the
phone in real time.[280]
Nokia brand owner HMD Global denied any such transfers had taken place, stating that it was
instead the result of an error in the packing process of the phone's software. [281] The Finnish Office of
the Data Protection Ombudsman launched an investigation into the matter on the assumption "that
personal data has been transferred."[282]
Xinjiang region[edit]
In 2020, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute accused at least 82 major brands, including Nokia,
of being connected to forced Uyghur labor in Xinjiang.[283]

See also[edit]

 Companies portal

 Telecommunication portal

 Finland portal

 Nokia Networks
 Nokia – a town in Pirkanmaa, Finland
 Nokia Arena
 Nokian Tyres
 History of Nokia
 Jolla – a company started by former Nokia employees which develops Linux Sailfish OS,
a continuation of Linux MeeGo OS
 Twig Com – originally Benefon, formerly a mobile phone manufacturer started by former
Nokia people, now a maker of personal safety and GPS tracking products
 Microsoft Mobile – the rebranding of Nokia's Device and Services division after its
acquisition by Microsoft
 HMD Global – the post-Microsoft continuation of Android-based Nokia devices