Chinese government-linked hackers have successfully infiltrated several major U.S. telecommunications companies, including AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen, over the past few months, according to a report by CNN. These companies, critical to the U.S. telecom industry, were targeted in a cyber-espionage campaign that has raised significant national security concerns among U.S. officials.
U.S. investigators believe that the hackers may have gained access to sensitive information, including wiretap warrant requests, though the full extent of the breach and the exact data compromised are still under investigation. The attack is part of a broader pattern of sophisticated cyber operations attributed to Chinese state-sponsored groups, occurring amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues like cyber espionage.
The U.S. telecom industry, which forms the foundation of the country’s internet and phone communications, is a high-value target for state-backed hackers. Telecom companies hold vast amounts of user data, and law enforcement agencies frequently seek access to portions of this data during national security investigations.
Both AT&T and Lumen declined to comment on the investigation, while Verizon did not respond to multiple requests from CNN for a statement. U.S. agencies, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, have also remained silent on the matter.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, has denied any involvement by Beijing-backed hackers in the recent breach of U.S. telecommunications companies. Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu called the accusations a “distortion of the fact” and accused the U.S. of politicizing cybersecurity issues to “smear China.”
CNN reported that the U.S. Congress has been briefed on the seriousness of the cyber-espionage campaign, with updates provided to both the House and Senate intelligence committees. Major cybersecurity firms, including Microsoft and Mandiant, have been enlisted to assist in the investigation. Sources close to the probe emphasized the persistence and sophistication of the hacking group, known in cybersecurity circles as *Salt Typhoon*.
FBI Director Christopher Wray remarked on the scale of the issue, stating that Chinese government-backed hackers vastly outnumber the FBI’s cyber personnel by a staggering 50 to 1. One Chinese hacking group has allegedly infiltrated U.S. transportation and communication networks, potentially poised to disrupt U.S. responses in the event of a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan.
In a similar incident last year, Chinese hackers breached the unclassified email accounts of senior U.S. diplomats shortly before Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s high-profile visit to China.
