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16h ago

Major Carriers Fail to Notify Senators of Surveillance Requests Despite 2020 Contract Revisions

Sen. Wyden's investigation reveals compliance gaps by AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, prompting commitments to notify but leaving personal and campaign phones unprotected.

Sen. Ron Wyden speaks to reporters following a weekly Democratic policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on April 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Image: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Social media applications seen on the a smartphone screen.
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Overview

  • Sen. Ron Wyden's investigation found AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile failed to notify senators of government surveillance requests, violating Senate contracts updated in 2020.
  • The carriers have now committed to notifying Senate-funded phone lines of surveillance requests but exclude personal and campaign devices, leaving significant security gaps.
  • Wyden highlighted past abuses, including a 2021 DOJ report showing secret surveillance of 43 staffers and two lawmakers under gag orders in 2017–18.
  • The Chinese hacking operation 'Salt Typhoon' breached U.S. telecom providers and accessed Senate communications, underscoring vulnerabilities in legislative cybersecurity.
  • Wyden is urging colleagues to switch to compliant carriers and advocating for legal reforms to empower the Senate Sergeant at Arms to better protect lawmakers' devices.