The United States government is hacking Chinese mobile phone companies to gather data from millions of text messages, former intelligence technician Edward Snowden told the Sunday Morning Post in Hong Kong.
US spies have also hacked China's prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing and Asia Pacific fibre-optic network operator Pacnet, the Post quoted Snowden as saying.
Snowden, who worked as a contractor for the National Security Agency (NSA), has been charged with espionage by the US after revealing a massive spying programme and has gone to ground after fleeing to Hong Kong.
"The NSA does all kinds of things like hack Chinese cell phone companies to steal all of your SMS data," Snowden said in the interview conducted on June 12.
The Post said Snowden had provided documents listing operational details of specific attacks on computers, including internet protocal (IP) addresses, over a four-year period.
Government data shows almost 900 billion text messages were exchanged in China in 2012.
The claims followed soon after a report in the Guardian in which he claimed the British government's electronic eavesdropping agency had gained secret access to fibre-optic cables carrying global Internet traffic and telephone calls.
Britain's Guardian said that Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) had started processing vast amounts of personal information -- including Facebook posts, emails, Internet histories and phonecalls -- and is sharing it with the NSA.
The Post has previously quoted Snowden saying there have been more than 61,000 NSA hacking operations globally, targeting powerful "network backbones" that can yield access to hundreds of thousands of individual computers.
He said these included hundreds of targets in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Snowden told the Post in the report published Saturday that Tsinghua University, which counts China's President Xi Jinping and previous President Hu Jintao among its graduates, was the target of extensive hacking by the US.
The university, which is home to one of the mainland's six major backbone networks from where Internet data from millions of Chinese citizens can be gathered, was breached as recently as January, he said.
In 2009, the NSA also attacked Pacnet, the owner of one of the region's biggest fibre-optic networks, the Post reported, citing information provided by Snowden.
Pacnet, which is headquartered in Hong Kong and Singapore, owns 46,000 kilometres of fibre and operates in 13 countries, according to its website.
A US justice department official has confirmed that a sealed criminal complaint has been lodged with a federal court in Virginia and a provisional arrest warrant has been issued for Snowden, who fled to Hong Kong in May.
But Hong Kong government officials Saturday remained tight-lipped as to whether they had received such a request and whether Snowden had been approached.
"If jurisdictions which have signed an agreement with Hong Kong made a request, then the Hong Kong government would process any request in accordance. And we would deal with it according to the law and system of Hong Kong," Police Commissioner Andy Tsang told reporters.
The Post claimed on its website late Saturday that Snowden remained "safe" in Hong Kong and had not been detained by police.
The city of seven million people has maintained a degree of autonomy since its handover of sovereignty from Britain to China in 1997 and operates a separate legal system.
The former British colony has a long-standing extradition treaty with the US, but Beijing, which has control over the city's defence and foreign affairs, has the potential to veto any ruling.
Legal experts have said that any attempt to extradite Snowden could last several years.
AFP
Sun Jun 23 2013
![US hacks Chinese mobile phone messages: Snowden US hacks Chinese mobile phone messages: Snowden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/61371942767_295x200.jpg)
![Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41715247870_SohThianLaijpg.jpg)
Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM
Pemimpin perniagaan dan usahawan daripada golongan belia merupakan pemacu penting yang akan membentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia, kata Presiden Persekutuan Pekilang-Pekilang Malaysia.
AWANI Tonight: 16 July 2024
#AWANITonight with @Hafiz_Marzukhi
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
![Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716613114_TBsprm.jpg)
Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman
Kesemua individu juga perlu hadir ke pejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebulan sekali untuk melaporkan diri.
![KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719822088_ZambryAbdKadir.jpg)
KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat
KPT mengalu-alukan cadangan PAC berhubung pelaksanaan dan pemakaian Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024, kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan kementerian itu.
![SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720679430_AbdulKarimRahman.jpg)
SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan
Sepak takraw wanita berpasukan berkemungkinan akan digugurkan daripada senarai acara temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) 2024 berikutan jumlah penyertaan kurang daripada jumlah minimum yang ditetapkan.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Enam rakyat Vietnam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok Enam rakyat Vietnam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41702437730_maut.jpg)
Enam rakyat Vietnam ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok
Enam orang ditemukan maut di sebuah hotel di Bangkok, Thailand pada Selasa laporan media tempatan yang memetik polis Bangkok.
AWANI 7:45 [16/07/2024] - Suspek dibawa ke lokasi | Selamat tinggal rakyat Malaysia | Harimau Malaya hilang taring?
- Polis sahkan suspek bunuh Kartini anggota polis.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
- Pan-Gon enggan dedah punca letak jawatan.
- Faisal Halim sedih mentor Pan-Gon undur diri.
- Pakai reben putih di Parlimen, tak salah.
![Isteri calon gandingan Trump letak jawatan di firma guaman Isteri calon gandingan Trump letak jawatan di firma guaman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721139141_TBJDUSHA.jpg)
Isteri calon gandingan Trump letak jawatan di firma guaman
Usha Vance, isteri kepada Senator J.D. Vance yang dipilih sebagai calon gandingan bekas presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS) Donald Trump awal minggu ini, telah meletakkan jawatannya di sebuah firma guaman,
![Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-05/71683779541_TBNAJIBRAZAK.jpg)
Najib fail permohonan di mahkamah rayuan cabar Titah Adendum
Berdasarkan sistem e-filing mahkamah, rayuan itu telah ditetapkan untuk pengurusan kes pada 7 Oktober ini.
![Edward Snowden dapat pasport Rusia Edward Snowden dapat pasport Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81664236498_EdwardSnowden.jpg)
Edward Snowden dapat pasport Rusia
Edward Snowden bakal menghadapi tuduhan pengintipan dan berdepan hukuman 30 tahun penjara di Amerika Syarikat jika dia kembali.
![Edward Snowden diberi kerakyatan Rusia Edward Snowden diberi kerakyatan Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/81664236498_EdwardSnowden.jpg)
Edward Snowden diberi kerakyatan Rusia
Snowden hidup dalam buangan di Rusia sejak mendedahkan program NASA yang menjejaskan jutaan rakyat pada 2013.
![Wanita maut dihempap tingkap hotel tertanggal Wanita maut dihempap tingkap hotel tertanggal](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-01/41548060350_hongkongmaut.jpg)
Wanita maut dihempap tingkap hotel tertanggal
Tiba di Hong Kong pada pagi, maut pada tengah hari.
![Edward Snowden sertai Twitter, hanya ikut akaun NSA Edward Snowden sertai Twitter, hanya ikut akaun NSA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-10/51443707733_EdwardSnowden.jpg)
Edward Snowden sertai Twitter, hanya ikut akaun NSA
Snowden merupakan individu kontroversi yang menjadi buruan polis ekoran pembocoran maklumat rahsia kerajaan Amerika Syarikat.
![Oliver Stone akan arah filem Edward Snowden Oliver Stone akan arah filem Edward Snowden](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/81370908005_295x200.jpg)
Oliver Stone akan arah filem Edward Snowden
Ia akan dibikin berdasarkan sebuah buku yang ditulis oleh seorang wartawan Britain mengenai Edward Snowden yang hidup dalam pelarian.
![Kerajaan terus pantau isu intipan asing -- Shahidan Kerajaan terus pantau isu intipan asing -- Shahidan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-10/61382369511_295x200.jpg)
Kerajaan terus pantau isu intipan asing -- Shahidan
Katanya Malaysia menolak sebarang bentuk pengintipan oleh mana-mana pihak kerana perbuatan itu menjejaskan kedaulatan negara dan hubungan dua hala.
![Pengintip UK, AS simpan berjuta-juta imej kamera web Yahoo: laporan Pengintip UK, AS simpan berjuta-juta imej kamera web Yahoo: laporan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2014-02/81393561985_295x200.jpg)
Pengintip UK, AS simpan berjuta-juta imej kamera web Yahoo: laporan
Program 'Optic Nerve' mengumpul dan menyimpan imej-imej perbualan kamera web tanpa mengira samada mereka adalah suspek atau tidak.
![Obama janji henti kawalan data telefon ratusan juta penduduk Obama janji henti kawalan data telefon ratusan juta penduduk](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2012-10/41351480584_120x90.jpg)
Obama janji henti kawalan data telefon ratusan juta penduduk
Obama turut janji perlindungan bagi komunikasi warga asing dan arahan serta merta kepada agensi risikan bagi mendapatkan perintah mahkamah sebelum mengakses data sulit individu.
![PM: M'sia menentang kegiatan pengintipan terhadap mana-mana kerajaan PM: M'sia menentang kegiatan pengintipan terhadap mana-mana kerajaan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/81370908005_295x200.jpg)
PM: M'sia menentang kegiatan pengintipan terhadap mana-mana kerajaan
Malaysia telah menghantar nota bantahan kepada pejabat Kedutaan Amerika Syarikat dan Suruhanjaya Tinggi Australia berhubung dakwaan pengintipan dilakukan di negara ini.
![Snowden terima suaka politik dari Venezuela - Rusia Snowden terima suaka politik dari Venezuela - Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2013-06/81370908005_295x200.jpg)
Snowden terima suaka politik dari Venezuela - Rusia
Kesahihan berita itu dipertikai apabila maklumat yang diterbitkan menerusi Twitter itu dipadam. Ia juga turut dinafi oleh Wikileaks.