Vithanage Erandi Kawshalya Madhushani Jade Times Staff
V.E.K. Madhushani is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Innovation.
Investigation uncovers alleged hacking attempts by Chinese operatives on telecommunications infrastructure affecting high-profile campaigns.
US officials have reported that cybercriminals connected to the Chinese government may have attempted to infiltrate communications involving former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance. According to sources familiar with the investigation, hackers targeted telecommunication networks and devices associated with their campaign, as well as others tied to the Harris-Walz campaign.
The attack appears part of a broader cyber-espionage effort, with the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirming their work to investigate “unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors linked to the People’s Republic of China.” Authorities were quick to inform affected telecommunications companies, providing technical assistance and intelligence to strengthen defenses against further breaches.
The Trump campaign attributed the cyber attack to alleged attempts by rivals to obstruct the former president’s return to office, though no evidence has substantiated this claim.
Sources indicate the cyber attack is under investigation as an espionage act rather than as an attempt to influence the campaign’s outcome directly. Verizon, one of the companies reportedly compromised, confirmed it is cooperating with authorities and working on security reinforcements.
Previous Security Incidents and Concerns
This follows previous hacks on Trump’s campaign, including an incident in September where three Iranian nationals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were charged with attempting to interfere in the US election process. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and FBI Director Christopher Wray have both warned of persistent efforts by foreign nations to undermine US election security. In Congress, Wray cautioned about threats from Chinese cyber-attacks aimed at causing real-world damage to US infrastructure.
The investigation into this latest breach is ongoing, and US agencies are actively working to prevent further interference with campaign communications.
