Chinese hackers, known as Salt Typhoon, have compromised wiretap systems of major U.S. telecom providers including AT&T, Lumen, and Verizon. This breach, reported by The Wall Street Journal, allows unauthorized access to sensitive customer data under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). Experts warn this incident illustrates the inherent risks of backdoor access intended for lawful surveillance. The U.S. government's investigation is ongoing, with national security sources deeming the breach potentially catastrophic. Calls for enhanced encryption have intensified in light of these vulnerabilities.