Chinese Spy Balloon Used U.S. Internet Provider to Communicate

Biden Administration Sought Court Order to Collect Intelligence on Balloon

U.S. intelligence officials have determined that the Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. earlier this year used an American internet service provider to communicate.
The balloon connected to a U.S.-based company to send and receive communications from China, primarily related to navigation.
The Biden administration sought a highly secretive court order from the federal Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to collect intelligence on it while it was over the U.S.
The company denied that the Chinese balloon had used its network, a determination it said was based on its own investigation and discussions it had with U.S. officials.
Chinese intelligence officials have covertly used commercially available service providers in various countries in the past, often as backup communication networks.