Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) have written a letter to the CEOs of Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies after reports emerged that these companies were hacked by a group with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on this cyberattack, stating that several telecom companies, including those mentioned above, fell victim to a CCP-backed attack and that hackers had access to their networks for an extended period.
In their letter, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi emphasized the significant implications of such a breach. They highlighted a previous hearing held by the committee that focused on ”Volt Typhoon,” another CCP-backed hacking campaign targeting critical U.S. infrastructure. This recent attack is believed to be part of an effort called “Salt Typhoon,” which is closely linked with the CCP’s spy agency.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal, these hackers gained access to networks containing criminal and national security information. Additionally, they potentially had access to millions of Americans’ communications data through these internet service providers.
The lawmakers’ letter stressed the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in response to this unprecedented cyber-adversary. They have requested a closed-door briefing with representatives from each company in order to understand the full extent of the cyberattack and what countermeasures have been taken thus far.
Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi acknowledged that addressing this cybersecurity threat requires cooperation between both public and private sectors. They are seeking mutual collaboration with these companies while also asking for guidance on how federal government assistance can be provided.
During an October 6 conference hosted by Cipher Brief, National Security Agency Director General Timothy Haugh expressed confidence in America’s ability to counter such threats due to voluntary cooperation across various sectors. He noted that technological advancements within private industries give the United States an advantage over China’s centralized control approach.
Haugh emphasized industry’s role in shaping cybersecurity efforts: “Truly, the cyber domain is created by industry… The value that we place on freedom of thought allows us to innovate quickly.”