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Some of the most sensitive computer systems used by the United States Department of Defence were being maintained with the help of engineers based in China, according to a new investigation by ProPublica. These engineers worked for Microsoft and were reportedly providing technical support with little oversight from American personnel.
Microsoft has now confirmed that this practice has ended. The company stated that it has updated its policies to make sure engineers located in China are no longer involved in supporting U.S. government cloud systems, including those used by the Department of Defence. Microsoft’s Chief Communications Officer, Frank Shaw, shared the update publicly, saying the decision was made in response to concerns raised earlier in the week.
To monitor the foreign engineers, Microsoft had been using a system of so-called “digital escorts.” These were mostly American workers, some with military backgrounds but often with little or no experience in computer programming. They were tasked with watching the Chinese engineers as they worked, but one escort interviewed by ProPublica admitted they couldn’t truly understand or verify what was being done. “We’re trusting that what they’re doing isn’t malicious, but we really can’t tell,” the worker said.
This support system had reportedly been in place for nearly a decade, yet even some current and former government officials said they did not know of it. Deven King, a spokesperson for the Defence Information Systems Agency, expressed confusion over the revelation, saying, “Literally no one seems to know anything about this.”
The situation has drawn attention because of the ongoing tech and trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Both countries have been implementing strict rules and restrictions on each other’s access to technology and markets. At the same time, cybersecurity threats from Chinese state-sponsored hackers targeting U.S. organisations, including local governments, have continued, increasing the urgency of national security concerns.
The discovery that Chinese engineers had any access at all to U.S. defence-related systems has sparked alarm. Microsoft’s decision to change its practices appears to be an attempt to rebuild trust and reduce the risk of foreign interference in sensitive government operations.