February 9, 2026
Dial M for Drama
AT&T, Verizon blocking release of Salt Typhoon security assessment reports
What are AT&T and Verizon hiding? Backdoors, blame, and a Congress showdown
TLDR: Senator Cantwell says AT&T and Verizon blocked Mandiant’s ‘Salt Typhoon’ hack reports and wants their CEOs grilled. Comments blame government backdoors, demand transparency to protect everyone, and warn this could hide failures behind potential mass surveillance.
Senator Maria Cantwell just dropped a bomb: she says AT&T and Verizon are blocking release of security reports on the alleged mega‑hack “Salt Typhoon,” and she wants their CEOs dragged before Congress to explain why Americans should trust their phones. The Reuters piece claims hackers could track locations and even listen in on calls—cue the community meltdown.
The hottest take? Users blame government‑mandated “lawful intercept” features—basically built‑in backdoors—saying those doors got kicked open by bad actors. One commenter blasted the grandstanding, arguing the same government that demanded those backdoors is now wagging its finger. Another asks the simple, savage question: why do backdoors exist at all? A cynic says if it were just another “APT” (a persistent hacker group), the report would’ve been out already because it fits the “acceptable narrative” (Overton window = what people in power allow you to discuss). Translation: folks suspect the reports might implicate more than foreign hackers.
Meanwhile, the transparency crowd is fuming: if the breach details stay secret, other critical systems can’t patch up and we all stay exposed. Conspiracy season is open too—people wonder if those recent chaotic outages were connected. Meme watch: “Salt Typhoon? More like Salt Bae sprinkling spyware,” and “Can you hear me now? So can everyone.”
Key Points
- •Sen. Maria Cantwell says AT&T and Verizon are blocking release of Mandiant security assessments on the alleged ‘Salt Typhoon’ telecom infiltration.
- •Cantwell urged the Senate Commerce Committee to call the CEOs of AT&T and Verizon to testify if documents are not provided voluntarily.
- •Mandiant refused to provide the assessments, apparently at the direction of AT&T and Verizon; Mandiant and Verizon declined comment, AT&T did not respond.
- •Cantwell cited FBI comments that Salt Typhoon targeted over 200 U.S. organizations and 80 countries, enabling potential surveillance and movement tracking.
- •Cantwell and other lawmakers allege hackers intercepted conversations, geolocated millions, and recorded calls, describing the incident as among the worst telecom hacks.