Microsoft ends use of China-based computer engineers for certain Defense Dept projects amid espionage fears

Microsoft declared it will cease using China-based computer engineering teams for work on Pentagon cloud systems and other classified systems after an assessment this week led to national defense concerns at the highest levels over a operation that Microsoft has used since A ProPublica overview published Tuesday accused Microsoft of allowing China-based engineers to assist with Pentagon cloud systems with inadequate guardrails in an effort to scale up its regime contracting business The analysis got the attention of GOP lawmakers and the Trump administration with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisting Friday that foreign engineers from any country should NEVER be allowed to maintain or access DOD systems He added that the Defense Department would be looking into this ASAP After Hegseth's indication that the Pentagon would be looking into the matter Fox News Digital reached out to Microsoft which responded that it would be ceasing its use of China-based computer engineers providing assistance to sensitive Defense Department cloud and related services TEMU SUED BY KENTUCKY FOR ALLEGEDLY GIVING CHINA UNFETTERED' ACCESS TO USER INFORMATION In response to concerns raised earlier this week about U S -supervised foreign engineers Microsoft has made changes to our patronage for U S authorities customers to assure that no China-based engineering teams are providing technical assistance for DOD establishment cloud and related services Frank Shaw chief communications officer at Microsoft explained We remain committed to providing the largest part secure services practicable to the U S ruling body including working with our national protection partners to evaluate and adjust our safety protocols as needed The ProPublica assessment published earlier this week which spurred Microsoft's action cited current and former employees and executive contractors who worked on a cloud computing scheme deployed by Microsoft in The scheme meant to meet federal contracting regulations used a system of digital escort chaperones for global cybersecurity representatives such as those based in China meant to create a precaution buffer so that they can work on agency computing systems DOD guidelines require that people handling sensitive facts be U S citizens or permanent residents CHINA'S SPYING IN CUBA SPARKS ALARM ON CAPITOL HILL AFTER FRESH SATELLITE IMAGES SHOW SURVEILLANCE BUILDUPAccording to sources who spoke to ProPublica including specific who had intimate familiarity with the hiring process for the -per-hour digital escort positions the tech employees being hired to do the supervising lacked the adequate tech expertise to prevent a rogue Chinese employee from hacking the system or turning over classified information to the CCP The sources elaborated that the escorts often former military personnel were hired for their prevention clearances more than their technical abilities and often lacked the skills to evaluate code being used by the engineers they were supervising HEGSETH ABRUPTLY PULLS PENTAGON ADMINISTRATORS FROM GLOBALIST ASPEN CONFERENCEMicrosoft used its escort system to handle sensitive authorities information that falls below classified the ProPublica overview indicated That includes content that involves the protection of life and financial ruin At the Defense Department the figures is categorized as Impact Level four and five which ProPublica stated includes materials directly supporting military operations People in China are governed by sweeping laws compelling administration cooperation with evidence collection efforts Before Microsoft's announcement Friday that it would be ceasing its use of China-based engineers for sensitive Defense Department programs the company defended its digital escort operation noting all personnel and contractors with privileged access must pass federally approved background checks The company also pointed to a response from the Defense Information Systems Agency which noted that digital escorts are used in select unclassified environments For specific technical requests Microsoft engages our unit of global subject-matter experts to provide sponsorship through authorized U S personnel consistent with U S cabinet requirements and processes a company spokesperson recounted Fox News Digital Tuesday In these instances global aid personnel have no direct access to customer content or customer systems The spokesperson added at the time that Microsoft adheres to the federal safety requirements outlined by the Defense Department and the Federal Danger and Authorization Management Campaign established in to address the risks associated with moving from entirely government-controlled servers to cloud-based computing We establish layers of mitigation at the platform level with measure and monitoring controls to detect and prevent threats This includes approval workflows for system changes and automated code reviews to expeditiously detect and prevent the introduction of vulnerabilities the spokesperson commented This production system encouragement model is approved and regularly audited by the U S cabinet Fox News Digital reached out to the Pentagon to inquire whether Microsoft's action changes its planned assessment but did not receive a response by publication time