US senators briefed on Chinese telecom hacking allegations
Officials warn of major cyber threats and call for action.
US agencies have briefed senators on ‘Salt Typhoon,’ a Chinese cyber-espionage campaign allegedly targeting American telecommunications networks. Officials claim the hackers stole call metadata and other sensitive information, affecting at least eight US telecom firms and dozens of companies worldwide. The breaches have sparked bipartisan concern, with some senators pressing for stronger preventive measures and legislation.
Telecom giants like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile acknowledged the incidents but downplayed the impact on customer data. Federal agencies, including the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, emphasised the challenge of fully removing hackers from networks, while incoming FCC Chair Brendan Carr pledged to strengthen cybersecurity defences.
China has denied the allegations, calling them disinformation. Meanwhile, a Senate subcommittee hearing on December 11 will focus on the risks posed by such cyber threats and explore ways to protect US communications infrastructure.
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