Despite Chinese hacks, Trump’s FCC votes to scrap cybersecurity rules for phone and internet companies

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), led by two Trump-appointed officials, has voted to scrap cybersecurity rules for phone and internet companies, despite ongoing Chinese cyber threats. The decision, which was opposed by the sole Democratic commissioner, has been criticized as leaving the United States "less safe" in the face of increasing security threats. The FCC's move rolls back regulations that required telecom providers to take measures to protect their networks and customer data from cyber attacks. This decision comes at a time when the U.S. government has warned about the growing risk of Chinese-backed hackers targeting American infrastructure and businesses. The Democratic commissioner who dissented from the FCC's decision argued that it weakens the country's defenses against cyber threats, which have become more prevalent and sophisticated in recent years. The scrapping of these cybersecurity rules has raised concerns about the potential vulnerability of critical communications networks and the potential impact on national security.