Rubio Warns China’s Telecom Hack is Most Serious Breach in U.S. History

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has sounded the alarm on what he calls the most serious breach of U.S. telecommunications systems ever, following revelations that China orchestrated a massive hack targeting several major American telecom companies. Rubio's remarks came during an interview on CBS News’ Face The Nation, where he confirmed Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner’s (D-VA) assessment of the unprecedented scale of the breach.

The espionage operation, linked to the Chinese government and dubbed "Salt Typhoon" by Microsoft cybersecurity experts, reportedly compromised communications involving high-profile U.S. officials, including aides to Vice President Kamala Harris and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Rubio underscored the gravity of the breach, calling it "outrageous and dangerous," with far-reaching implications for national security.

Key Points:

• Widespread Espionage: The breach affected major telecom giants like Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen. It compromised sensitive information, including potentially court-authorized surveillance wiretaps under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

• Targeted Individuals: The hack targeted prominent political and national security figures, possibly allowing China to build influence operations by identifying key decision-makers and their contacts.

• National Security at Risk: Rubio warned of the long-term threat to U.S. national security, emphasizing that the vulnerability was unforeseen and underscoring the need for immediate and robust countermeasures.

The Biden administration’s response has drawn criticism for being slow and insufficient. The Department of Homeland Security's Cyber Safety Review Board is set to review the incident, but no timeline has been provided. The Wall Street Journal highlighted the unprecedented nature of China’s espionage efforts, noting Beijing’s aggressive push to steal technology and position itself as the world’s leading superpower.

As investigations continue, the scale of the breach is expected to grow, raising urgent questions about the U.S.'s cybersecurity defenses and the administration's preparedness for such threats.

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