Sen. Marco Rubio, during an interview on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," raised alarm over the Chinese hacking incident involving major U.S. telecom companies, describing it as a significant and concerning breach of telecommunications systems. Rubio hinted at the complexity of the situation, suggesting that more information about the extent of the breach and potential repercussions could come to light as investigations progress.
The cyberattack linked to China-backed hackers, known as "Salt Typhoon," targeted companies like Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies, breaching systems used for U.S. intelligence wiretaps. The breach has prompted efforts from both government agencies and affected private companies to determine the extent of the infiltration and assess the potential risks associated with sensitive information being compromised. Rubio echoed concerns raised by Senate Intelligence Committee chair Mark Warner, indicating the severity of the breach as possibly one of the most significant breaches in recent history.
Despite the specific breach not posing an immediate threat to the U.S. presidential election, Rubio stressed the broader implications for national security moving forward. He emphasized the severity of the situation, underlining the unforeseen vulnerability that has been exposed, which could have serious implications for the country's security landscape. Rubio acknowledged that while the breach may not directly impact the election, it raises broader concerns about safeguarding national security interests against cyber threats and potential foreign interference efforts.