Chinese Hackers Pose Realistic Threat to U.S. Critical Infrastructure, Says Republican Senator
Republican Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas has highlighted the growing threat of Chinese hackers targeting critical infrastructure in the United States. Senator Cotton, who serves on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees and has firsthand military experience, believes that the potential consequences of such cyber attacks are both alarming and realistic.
According to Senator Cotton, Chinese hackers have the capability to disrupt essential systems such as water supplies, the electric grid, air traffic control, port controls, and train yards. In response to this threat, he recently introduced a bill to address risks to the food supply and agriculture industry. He claims that China is actively developing the capabilities required to launch these attacks and has expressed concern that China's size and resources make it difficult to solely rely on defensive measures.
To deter such attacks, Senator Cotton believes that the United States must project strength and be willing to retaliate in kind. He argues that the country needs to convince China that any attack on U.S. infrastructure would be met with a response several times more devastating. He pointed out that this approach successfully deterred Soviet Russia during the Cold War and suggests it can be effective against China as well.
The senator also expressed concerns about TikTok, a popular social media platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance. He questioned the CEO of TikTok regarding his association or affiliation with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). While the CEO denied any connection, Senator Cotton highlighted the fact that TikTok operates under a company controlled by a CCP committee and that the CEO previously worked for a company sanctioned by the U.S. government for its connections to the Chinese communist-controlled military.
Senator Cotton emphasized that it is reasonable to scrutinize the influence of the CCP on TikTok and its executives, given the company's connections and the CCP's extensive reach and influence. He criticized the CEO for refusing to answer questions about contentious issues such as China's treatment of the Uyghur people or the nature of President Xi Jinping's leadership.
In addition to cyber threats, Senator Cotton also raised concerns about the safety of children online and the role of technology companies in combatting illegal activities. He called for bipartisan legislation empowering parents to have control over their children's access to online platforms, similar to their authority in the physical world.
It remains to be seen whether Congress will take substantial action to address these threats and protect children online. However, Senator Cotton's push for legislation reflects the growing recognition of the need to tackle cybersecurity risks and promote digital safety for all Americans.
