A bipartisan group of US lawmakers ordered three telecoms to respond to inquiries.
Key Takeaways
- A bipartisan group of US lawmakers requested AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Lumen Technologies to respond to inquiries.
- The US asserted that Chinese hackers had gained access to US broadband companies’ networks.
- Members of Congress gave the deadline till next Friday to three telecoms.
- Wyden blamed the government for its prolonged inaction on weaknesses in wiretap systems.
On Friday, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers ordered AT&T, Verizon Communications, and Lumen Technologies to respond to inquiries following a claim that Chinese hackers had entered the networks of US broadband providers.
On October 5, 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Chinese hacker group “Salt Typhoon” hacked the US judicial wiretap system, naming the three telecoms as among those whose networks had been compromised.
In light of these events, members of Congress have formally requested explanations from AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen. They want to know exactly what data was taken and when organizations were notified of the security incident.
A Republican and the top Democrat on the committee, Representative Frank Pallone, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, along with Representatives Doris Matsui and Bob Latta, jointly called for answers till next Friday.
The lawmakers said,
“There is a growing concern regarding the cybersecurity vulnerabilities embedded in U.S. telecommunications networks.”
Unsatisfied responses may result in government involvement. It can create new regulations to bolster defenses against potential attacks on the United States’ critical infrastructure.
“These types of breaches are increasing in frequency and severity,” the letter states. “
On behalf of the House Select Committee on China, John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed worry that the breach would have serious consequences for national security.
Sen. Ron Wyden, a prominent cybersecurity legend and member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Justice Department.
In a letter, Wyden criticized the government for its prolonged inaction on weaknesses in wiretap systems, which is mandated by the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA).
Wyden wrote,
“The government shares much of the blame.”
Security is invading this tech-centered era, as recently the United Nations also reported how the messaging app Telegram is being exploited by criminal networks in Southeast Asia for illegal activities.
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