Technology
US recommends approving Google, Meta undersea data cable to Asia
Administration urges FCC grant licenses for companies to send, receive data on existing 8,000-mile Pacific Light Cable Network
![US recommends approving Google, Meta undersea data cable to Asia](/media/10820/conversions/Google-1280x720.webp)
Washington: The Biden administration on Friday recommended Alphabet's Google and Facebook parent Meta get permission to use an undersea cable system to handle growing internet traffic with Asia.
The administration urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to grant licenses for the companies to send and receive data on the existing 8,000-mile Pacific Light Cable Network. The undersea fiber-optic cable system connects the United States, Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
Undersea cables transmit nearly all the world’s internet data traffic. Meta sought permission to use the Phillipines-to-United States portion, while Google has asked for permission to connect to Taiwan.
The companies committed to protect the privacy and security of Americans' data, particularly against China's intelligence operations.
The plan by Google and Meta abandoned a previous proposal to use the network's cable to Hong Kong, which is controlled by Beijing. Multiple U.S. government agencies recommended blocking that plan in 2020.
The Justice Department said the national security agreements with Google and Meta were needed given China's "sustained efforts to acquire the sensitive personal data of millions of U.S. persons."
The Chinese Embassy in Washington and Google did not immediately comment.
Google said in 2020 it needed the data connections to handle growing traffic between its data centers in Taiwan and the United States.
A Meta spokesperson said the "cable system increases internet capacity" between the United States and Philippines "to help people stay connected and share content." The cables are secure and data is protected through advanced encryption, it said.
Under the agreements, Google and Meta must conduct annual assessments of risk to sensitive data, and they have to be able to restrict or stop data traffic on the cables within 24 hours.
Around 300 subsea cables form the backbone of the internet, carrying 99% of the world’s data traffic.
Source: Reuters
-
Pakistan 1 day ago
Pakistan Post suspends parcel service to US
-
Technology 2 days ago
PTA to whitelist VPNs to ensure smooth, secure IT services
-
Pakistan 1 day ago
PM Shehbaz urges India to find peaceful solution to Kashmir dispute
-
Business 1 day ago
Gold rate dips by Rs300 per tola to Rs256,500
-
Entertainment 2 days ago
Aima Baig faces backlash for performing in Jeddah after Umrah
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
Heavy rains claim 15 lives in 24 Hours, NDMA Issues flood warning
-
Pakistan 2 days ago
JI chief rules out any comprise on demands before govt
-
World 2 days ago
Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel as Middle East tensions escalate