Chinese Espionage Campaign Infiltrates US Telecommunications, FBI Warns

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The FBI has uncovered a sweeping Chinese espionage operation targeting U.S. telecommunications systems and individuals in political and governmental roles. The agency described the campaign as “broad and significant,” raising alarm about national security vulnerabilities.

This announcement follows the September discovery of a Chinese cyber operation that installed malware on more than 200,000 American devices. Just last month, Chinese hackers reportedly attempted to breach the phones of President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

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— Jeanne Ives (@JeanneIves) November 15, 2024

Investigators believe the campaign’s primary focus is to steal sensitive government and technological information. Hackers affiliated with Beijing have also requested call records for a select number of individuals, according to the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Though specific victims have not been disclosed, authorities emphasized that the targets were mainly involved in government and political activities. The FBI and CISA continue to provide technical support to affected organizations while working to strengthen cybersecurity within the telecommunications sector.

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— Robert Morton (@Robert4787) November 15, 2024

China has denied involvement in the operation, dismissing allegations of espionage. However, the FBI warned that these threats are evolving and urged potential victims to remain vigilant.

Both agencies are encouraging organizations that suspect they may have been targeted to reach out to local FBI field offices or CISA for guidance and support.