US authorities have confirmed that cybercriminals linked to China may have attempted to access the phones and networks of former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance. Multiple sources familiar with the situation informed CBS News, a partner of the BBC’s US news coverage, that the Trump-Vance campaign was alerted about the potential targeting.
Additionally, individuals associated with the Harris-Walz campaign were also reportedly targeted, according to a source.
It remains unclear how much information, if any, was compromised. The Department of Justice and the FBI did not comment on whether the candidates were specifically targeted.
In a joint statement, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirmed that the US government is investigating “unauthorised access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.” Following the detection of this “malicious activity,” the agencies notified affected companies, provided technical assistance, and swiftly shared information to aid other potential victims. The investigation is ongoing.
Law enforcement is treating the breach as an act of espionage rather than an attempt to influence the campaign, one source told CBS.
Earlier this month, reports revealed that US telecommunications companies had been targeted by hackers, including Verizon, which is believed to have been used to access data related to Trump and Vance, as reported by the New York Times.
A Verizon spokesperson stated that the company is “aware that a highly sophisticated nation-state actor has reportedly targeted several US telecommunications providers to gather intelligence,” and that it is cooperating with law enforcement on the investigation.
This is not the first time the Trump campaign has faced such threats; earlier this year, three Iranian nationals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were charged with attempts to undermine a presidential campaign.
US government agencies have consistently warned about the risks of foreign interference in elections. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan remarked, “Our adversaries view American elections as opportunities to influence and undermine confidence in our democracy.” FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted in January that Chinese hackers were preparing to “wreak havoc and cause real-world harm” to the US.
Credit: BBC News
