- US officials warn Google and Meta about potential threats from Chinese repair ships tampering with undersea internet cables.
- Chinese repair ships have been intermittently hiding their locations, raising security concerns.
- The US is taking steps to protect these vital cables, funding Pacific projects and supporting US-based repair firms.
US officials have issued warnings to tech giants like Google and Meta about potential security risks from Chinese repair ships working on undersea internet cables. These cables are crucial for global internet traffic and any tampering could pose serious threats to commercial and military data.
Chinese repair ships, particularly those from the state-controlled S.B. Submarine Systems (SBSS), have been known to intermittently hide their locations from tracking services. This unusual behavior has raised suspicions that these ships might engage in activities such as data tapping or mapping the ocean floor for reconnaissance.
To address these concerns, the US government is funding several Pacific cable projects and investing in infrastructure through companies like Google. Additionally, the US is supporting American cable repair firms like SubCom to ensure they are available for critical repairs, thereby safeguarding the integrity of these vital undersea cables.
