Foxit, a prominent PDF software company founded in China, recently took an unusual step: it scrubbed all mentions of its U.S. government customers from its website. This move followed inquiries from Fox News Digital regarding its connections to the Chinese government and its dealings with various U.S. agencies.
Founded in 2001 in Fuzhou, China, by Eugene Xiong, Foxit offers software for editing, reading, and signing PDF documents. Its parent company, Fujian Foxit Software Development Joint Stock Co., Ltd., is traded on the Shanghai stock market, while the U.S. subsidiary is based in Fremont, California. This dual ownership raises eyebrows, especially given Foxit’s notable client history, which previously included agencies like the Missile Defense Agency and the State Department. However, the very mention of these relationships vanished from its site after questions were posed.
Foxit did not respond to questions regarding the abrupt deletion of this information. Results from the investigation revealed a concerning trend: several U.S. agencies confirmed that they had either halted the use of Foxit products or were no longer under contract with the company’s U.S. branch. An MDA spokesperson stated that while Foxit had been used in an isolated environment, it is now “no longer in any MDA system.” The timeline of its removal remains unclear, although an ongoing review of all software in use has begun.
In the wake of Fox News Digital’s inquiries, sources from multiple agencies, including the State Department and DHS, indicated that previous contracts with Foxit had been terminated. DHS specifically has placed Foxit on its prohibited software list, signaling serious concerns.
Interestingly, before the website purge, Foxit showcased “case studies” that highlighted its work with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the FDA. The FDA, which manages sensitive data pertinent to trade secrets and clinical trials, did not clarify whether it still uses Foxit’s products. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice acknowledged that Foxit was removed from its networks after a thorough security evaluation.
Tracking Foxit’s government contracts is complicated, as purchases may be documented under various distributors rather than the company itself. Nonetheless, numerous solicitation requests aimed at Foxit software came from a variety of federal agencies, including the Army, Navy, and NASA.
In a further examination of Foxit’s operations, it becomes evident that its U.S. website promotes its California presence and “global” outreach without disclosing its ties to China. In sharp contrast, its Chinese-language site openly lists clients like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Intellectual Property Office. Such discrepancies raise questions about transparency and user data management in contracts likely involving sensitive government information.
Foxit’s parent, remaining under Chinese law, faces obligations that could influence its operations in the U.S. The 2017 National Intelligence Law mandates that companies assist Chinese intelligence efforts when requested. One observer remarked on the potential complications of Foxit’s corporate structure, likening it to ongoing debates surrounding other tech companies with similar ties to China.
Critics of Foxit’s business practices emphasize the risks associated with even seemingly innocuous data since it could offer valuable insights to adversaries. “Even if Foxit isn’t being used for secret documents, the information the company could potentially glean would be invaluable to the CCP,” warned an analyst. The caution stems from the concern that Foxit’s platform could collect immense amounts of sensitive data about government contracts and operations, whether intentionally or not.
Originally, Foxit gained a foothold in the market as a low-cost alternative to Adobe Acrobat. However, experts caution that the initial savings may come with hidden consequences, particularly when it comes to security and data integrity. With Foxit touting significant user numbers and expansive global plans, the apprehensions about the implications of its operations in the U.S. don’t seem to be fading anytime soon.
As the debate continues over potential security risks posed by foreign software companies, Foxit serves as a case study of the complexities involved in global business operations and national security concerns.
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