China is quietly gaining control over global communications through undersea cables and data centers, posing security risks to the West. TikTok is also accused of collecting user data for Beijing. Experts warn the West must act quickly to protect its technology and privacy.
Finnish authorities detained an oil tanker on Thursday over suspicions of involvement in damaging critical undersea cables, with indications that the vessel may be linked to Russia's "shadow fleet" designed to bypass Western sanctions, according to a report by The New York Times.
The damage caused to undersea cables in the Red Sea, following the Houthi strikes in the region, is disrupting global telecommunications networks and forcing internet providers to reroute as much as a quarter of traffic between Asia, Europe and the Middle East, reported CNN.
In a move to counter China's expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific region, Japan has joined forces with the United States and Australia to sign an agreement on a USD 95 million undersea cable project.
Hanoi [Vietnam], June 13 (ANI): Vietnam objected to China's recent reported laying of undersea cables in the disputed Paracel Islands, saying it was a violation of Vietnamese sovereignty.
London [UK], Dec 16 (ANI): Britain's military fears if the undersea cables from Russia were cut or disrupted, there would be an immediate and potentially catastrophic hit to the economy.