Three Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives have called on the CEOs of major technology companies—Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft—to explain what safeguards they have implemented to protect undersea communications cables amid rising national security concerns.
These submarine cables, totaling over 400 worldwide, carry 99% of international internet traffic. Lawmakers are increasingly alarmed about threats posed by foreign adversaries, particularly China and Russia, who they say are attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in this critical infrastructure.
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In a letter sent Monday, representatives asked the tech leaders to disclose if they had detected any instances of hardware tampering, signal interference, or other irregularities during cable maintenance or repairs. They also requested details on the security protocols in place to protect these vital systems.
It raises concerns about coordinated foreign interference, with “a growing body of evidence pointing to a pattern of coordinated malign activity linked to the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation targeting subsea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, Indo-Pacific, and other strategic regions.”
The letter was signed by Representative John Moolenaar, Chair of a House Panel on China, along with Representatives, Carlos Gimenez and Keith Self, who lead related subcommittees. They emphasized the need for transparency around how the companies manage submarine cable risks.
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The issue has gained urgency following several recent incidents. In November 2024, two fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea were cut, sparking investigations into possible sabotage. Taiwan accused Chinese vessels of severing cables serving the Matsu Islands in 2023, and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are suspected of damaging multiple internet cables connecting Europe and Asia.
Since 2020, U.S. regulators have blocked the construction of four proposed cables intended to link the U.S. with Hong Kong, citing national security risks.
The companies have been asked to respond by August 8.
