Phone Companies Deny U.S. Military's Data Requests

by Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Phone companies are denying the U.S. military's requests for data about vulnerabilities in the American telecom system, according to a letter released Wednesday.

In responses to Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, the Pentagon revealed it had requested the results of digital security tests and audits from its telecommunications carriers but was declined due to claims of attorney-client privilege.

In a letter co-signed with Republican Senator Eric Schmitt, Wyden expressed dissatisfaction with this answer.

Although the Pentagon is a major purchaser of wireless services in the U.S., it has not effectively leveraged its purchasing power to enforce cyber defenses and accountability from wireless carriers, Wyden noted.

The specific carriers were not named in the military's responses, but AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are known providers of commercial wireless services for unclassified use.

AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did the Pentagon.

Concerns about American telecommunications security, especially involving commercial carriers, have escalated following notable intrusions attributed to Chinese hackers.

U.S. officials have alleged that hackers known as "Salt Typhoon" compromised limited telephone audio intercepts and a larger volume of call record data, primarily focusing on individuals in the Washington area.

Later Thursday, senators are scheduled to receive a classified briefing regarding Salt Typhoon and its implications for U.S. data.

Chinese officials have previously dismissed these allegations as disinformation and have stated that Beijing "firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft in all forms."