Lawmakers Demand Answers on Chinese Cyber Breach

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is demanding answers from AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies following reports that Chinese hackers, linked to the Salt Typhoon group, infiltrated these telecom networks, potentially compromising sensitive information related to court-authorized wiretaps. Congressional leaders, including Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Rep. Frank Pallone, have requested briefings from the companies by next Friday to address the cybersecurity vulnerabilities revealed by this breach. Lawmakers expressed concerns over the increasing frequency of such attacks and criticized both the telecommunications companies and the federal government for insufficient security measures. Senator Ron Wyden has called for updated regulations and accountability in cybersecurity practices among telecom carriers. The Chinese Embassy has denied any involvement, stating that the U.S. is fabricating narratives to blame China. The timeline and extent of the breach remain unclear, with indications that hackers may have had prolonged access to the companies' systems.