News
The statement adds further fuel to the U.S.–China geopolitical fire.
By Georgia Sweeting, Total Telecom
The U.S. government’s ongoing investigation into cyber threats from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has uncovered a wide-reaching espionage campaign targeting commercial telecommunications networks, according to a joint statement released this week from the FBI and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency).
The findings have revealed that Chinese affiliated hackers have breached networks across multiple telecommunications companies in a “broad and significant cyber espionage campaign,” allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data and private communications.
Specifically, the hackers have been able to access and steal customer call records, including information about individuals involved in political and government activities. In some instances, they also intercepted communications tied to U.S. law enforcement requests under court orders, raising serious concerns about the integrity of confidential information and data privacy within U.S. commercial networks.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the attack last month, and suggested that both telcos and broadband providers, including AT&T, Verizon and Lumen were among the targets, although the most recent has not named specific companies. At the time, the Chinese Embassy in Washington has denied the claims, calling them a “a distortion of fact” and a political attempt to “smear” China.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are working together to support affected companies, share information to prevent further attacks, and improve cybersecurity across the telecom sector. Organizations concerned about breaches have been encouraged to contact their local FBI office or reach out to CISA for assistance.
In recent years, U.S.–China tensions have grown over tech and telecom security, driven by concerns around control of critical infrastructure like 5G and semiconductors. The U.S. has placed restrictions on Chinese telecom companies, including Huawei, and imposed export limits on advanced technology, citing national security risks. Alleged cyber intrusions by Chinese hackers into U.S. telecom networks and privacy concerns over apps like TikTok have added to these strains, fueling a push for self-reliance and competition over key technologies.
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