Citing a breaking news story in Tech Times about the police raid of a fake iPhone factory in China, John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, said the incident serves as further evidence that counterfeit electronics are a growing problem and a serious threat to personal, professional and government safety and security.
Authorities arrested nine individuals believed to have been associated with the raided factory, which has shipped at least 41,000 fake iOS devices this year, many of which made their way into the United States. The company has made an estimated $19.3 million off of iDevice counterfeits.
While not a new problem, Shegerian said, the issue is a rapidly growing one. Counterfeit technology from China has been discovered at all levels – ranging from household consumer electronics to cases of advanced missile systems, helicopters, submarines and more.
Quoted in the Tech Times article, Shegerian said, “Already concerned with cybercrime and hacking, we are now faced with counterfeit electronics – a new layer of unethical behavior that is having detrimental effects on our national security. It’s not just about personal information and finances; it is also a risk to use poorly designed or improperly tested technological components, which can ultimately render many processes unsafe or vulnerable.”
Shegerian explained that government, as well as the private sector, must protect all hardware and devices with equal diligence, and the responsible recycling of electronics is more important now than ever before.
“With current technological innovations, there is very fast turnover when it comes to computers, laptops and other electronic devices,” Shegerian added. “Responsibly recycling all old and unwanted items – government or otherwise – here in the United States is crucial. Our safety, digital security, environment and the reliability and legitimacy of newly made devices all rest in the balance of us recycling the right way.”
Shegerian also noted ERI currently provides the only nationwide solution offering 100 percent guaranteed data destruction for consumer electronics devices and e-waste.
