The FBI has found that Chinese telecommunications company Huawei's equipment placed on cellphone towers in the Midwest is capable of disrupting Defense Department communications, including those of the force that oversees U.S. nuclear weapons. multiple sources told CNN.
More than a dozen sources told the media outlet that during an FBI investigation, Huawei's technology, which sits on top of cell phone towers near military bases in the US Midwest, has the ability to intercept communications from the US's Strategic Command. USA.
CNN interviewed former and current FBI officials who spoke on condition of anonymity for the report.
“This gets into some of the most sensitive things we do,” a former FBI official told CNN. “It would affect our ability to effectively command and control with the nuclear triad.”
He added: “If it's possible to disrupt that, then that's a very bad day.”
Sources said it is difficult to gather evidence that specific data has been intercepted and sent to another country, so it is uncertain whether China collected findings from its equipment.
According to the news source, the Chinese government has denied the United States' spying efforts. Additionally, when contacted for comment by CNN, Huawei denied that its products are capable of operating in the communications spectrum assigned to the Department of Defense.
The FBI investigation into Huawei equipment reported by CNN stretches back to the Obama administration.
On Thursday, Reuters reportedciting two people familiar with the matter, that the Biden administration was investigating Huawei over concerns that it poses a national security threat through its equipment placed on cell towers near military bases.
The investigation was launched by the Commerce Department shortly after President Biden took office, according to the news network. The outlet said it could not determine whether Huawei's equipment was capable of collecting sensitive US national security information.
The Hill has reached out to the FBI for comment on the investigations into Huawei technology.
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