Chinese spy balloon used American internet provider: US
CNN reported. This connection emerged as one of how the US intelligence agencies were able to track the balloon's location and gather crucial information during its transit. While the identity of the specific internet service provider remains undisclosed, CNN was informed that the balloon could communicate with Beijing as it crossed the US.
NBC News first reported that the balloon relied on a US network for communication. According to the US official, the network connection was not utilized to transmit intelligence data back to China. Instead, the balloon stored such information, including imagery and other data, for later retrieval.
The US successfully shot down the Chinese spy balloon in February, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the stored information. Both the FBI and the Director of the Office of National Intelligence declined to comment on the matter. CNN reached out to the Chinese Embassy in Washington for a response.
China has consistently maintained that the balloon was a weather balloon that had veered off course. As previously reported by CNN, the US intelligence community assessed that the spy balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program orchestrated by the Chinese military. The balloon fleet had conducted over two dozen missions across at least five continents in recent years, according to US officials.
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