A report released by the China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance (CCIA) on Monday alleges that U.S. intelligence agencies have conducted widespread cyber espionage targeting mobile devices worldwide. The document accuses U.S. operatives of exploiting vulnerabilities in smartphones, communication networks, and tech supply chains to compromise user privacy and national security.
Exploiting Tech Infrastructure
The report claims U.S. agencies leveraged weaknesses in hardware components such as SIM cards, firmware, and software systems like iOS and Android. Apple's iMessage service was allegedly weaponized for "zero-click" exploits, enabling malware installation without user interaction. Researchers cited in the document assert such methods allowed data harvesting from both prominent figures and ordinary users.
Global Surveillance Network
Operations reportedly extend to data centers, with U.S.-led "Operation Irritant Horn" targeting Chinese apps for user data extraction. A popular Chinese mobile browser was flagged for transmitting sensitive information to servers, creating vulnerabilities exploited for "secondary data collection." The report also references commercial spyware like Israel's Pegasus, previously linked to political surveillance campaigns.
Call for International Action
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the alleged activities at a press briefing, stating U.S. actions "abuse technological dominance and threaten global cybersecurity." The CCIA urges enhanced scrutiny of U.S.-linked tech infrastructure and advocates for multilateral data security cooperation to counter "unilateral cyber hegemony."
