China Unicom controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
2022
Continuation of Russian operations after the invasion of Ukraine
China Unicom continued business in Russia through a subsidiary after the invasion of Ukraine. Yale School of Management categorized the company as maintaining its activities rather than exiting or substantially reducing them, attracting criticism in the context of international corporate withdrawals and sanctions.
2020
Allegations of surveillance through Caribbean mobile networks
The Guardian reported that a security researcher had identified evidence of a surveillance campaign involving China Unicom through Caribbean mobile networks operated with Cable & Wireless Communications and BTC. China Unicom denied the allegations.
2019
Court upholds compensation award against China Unicom Xi'an branch
Ruling
A court of second instance upheld the ruling requiring China Unicom Xi'an branch to pay the customer RMB 500 in compensation, refund RMB 27.22 in service fees, and bear RMB 50 in case acceptance fees. The report says the court found that the branch had overcharged service fees and had not promptly informed the customer or returned them.
Source excerpt
近日，法院二审维持原判，联通西安市分公司需向李先生赔偿500元。
认为中国联通西安市分公司在多收取原告服务费的情况下，未及时告知消费者李先生并返还相关费用，给消费者造成损失，应按上述规定向消费者李先生赔偿500元，返还多收取的服务费27.22元，并承担案件受理费50元。
2017
Chang Xiaobing sentenced to 6 years in first-instance bribery case
On May 31, 2017, the Baoding Intermediate People's Court sentenced former China Telecom chairman Chang Xiaobing to 6 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 yuan in first instance. It found that he accepted bribes of more than 3.76 million yuan, with acts involving his posts at the Directorate General of Telecommunications of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and China Unicom; he was chairman of China Telecom when investigated in 2015.
2011
Broadband access and interconnection settlement subject to NDRC antitrust investigation
In November 2011, CCTV and Yicai reported that the NDRC had investigated China Telecom and China Unicom over suspected price discrimination and insufficient interconnection in broadband access and interconnection settlement, triggering discussions on pricing and market competition. This entry records the investigation stage and does not treat the huge fines predicted in reports as penalties actually imposed.