Senators get classified briefing on threats to undersea Internet cables

Military, Intelligence and Homeland Security officials briefed a group of senators on Nov 18 on reports of Russia’s potential threat to underseas fiberoptic cables that make up the backbone of the world’s Internet. The classified briefing came at the request of Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) after it was reported that US officials were worried that Russia could be planning to sever some of the cables that run along the ocean’s floor. There is no evidence that any of the cables had been intentionally cut, but it has been reported Russian ships and submarines are operating near the cables with increased intensity. While the US has figured out ways to tap the cables to glean data flowing across them, the worry is that Russia could cut them to sabatoge communications flow. Those officials who briefed senators were from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Naval Intelligence, the Department of Homeland Security and the Joint Operations Division for US European Command.

Sen Wicker provided no details from the top-secret briefing but said he would work “in the coming weeks” to provide military and intelligence agencies with tools they need to protect American interests. “Undersea cables are critical to our economy, our communications, and our national security,” he said in a statement. “The United States needs to take seriously the growing Russian threat to these cables.”