US senators were briefed behind closed doors this week on the scale of “Salt Typhoon,” an alleged Chinese cyber-espionage campaign targeting the nation’s telecommunications networks.The FBI, CISA, and other key agencies, who were part of the briefing, revealed that the sophisticated operation compromised at least eight US telecom firms, stealing metadata and call intercepts, including sensitive data tied to government and political officials, Reuters reported.Participants in the briefing included high-ranking officials like FBI agents, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, and FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel. “The extent and depth and breadth of Chinese hacking is absolutely mind-boggling, that we would permit as much as has happened in just the last year is terrifying,” the report said quoting Senator Richard Blumenthal.Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, emerging from the briefing, committed to drafting legislation to counter such threats.Republican Senator Rick Scott, however, criticized the lack of answers on preventive measures, stating that Congress may not be able to address the issue until next year.A day before CISA had released an advisory asking security teams and US citizens to take immediate precautions to counter the surveillance threat posed by Chinese “Salt Typhoon” hackers. Legislative action is expected, though its timeline remains unclear.The Senate Commerce subcommittee has planned a December 11 hearing to examine the risks to communication networks and evaluate measures to prevent future breaches. Industry representatives, including Competitive Carriers Association CEO Tim Donovan, are slated to testify, the report added.This case has intensified bipartisan concern over China’s influence in cyberspace. While Republican lawmakers have previously accused technology platforms of political bias, Salt Typhoon has unified attention on securing national infrastructure.Last month, the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) imposed an immediate ban on employees and contractors using mobile phones for work-related calls. The action stems from concerns over potential eavesdropping and data theft, sparked by what officials have described as a sweeping espionage operation conducted by Salt Typhoon.
Telecom giants in crosshairs
Companies such as Verizon, AT&T, Lumen, and T-Mobile have been implicated in the breaches. Verizon confirmed it was one of several firms accessed by hackers, who focused on targeting key individuals in politics and government. T-Mobile and Lumen stated that customer data remained unaffected.Meanwhile, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, AT&T CEO John Stankey, and others recently met with White House officials to address the crisis.Incoming FCC Chair Brendan Carr vowed to prioritize network security in the coming months, stating that collaboration with national security agencies will be central to tackling the threat, the report added.
Global fallout and industry impact
Salt Typhoon reflects an alarming escalation in China’s cyber capabilities, leveraging telecom vulnerabilities to infiltrate critical infrastructure. US officials disclosed that dozens of companies globally were affected, with extensive metadata stolen.The breach underscores broader risks to the $825 billion cloud and telecommunications sector, which has seen massive growth fueled by demand for data storage and AI applications. With global competition intensifying, the Salt Typhoon case highlights the need for robust security measures across critical industries.Chinese authorities dismissed the allegations as “disinformation,” asserting that Beijing opposes all forms of cyber theft. However, the fallout continues to shape US policy, with bipartisan calls to bolster cybersecurity defenses and hold nation-state actors accountable for aggressive cyber tactics.
First seen on csoonline.com
Jump to article: www.csoonline.com/article/3617907/us-may-plan-legislation-to-contain-chinese-cyber-espionage.html
