The Employing of a Chinese Spies Balloon by a US Internet Provider

It is said that a U.S. internet service provider was utilized by a Chinese surveillance balloon to communicate during its week-long flight across the country in February.

According to NBC News, U.S. intelligence authorities concluded that the balloon's primary purpose for sending and receiving signals to China was navigation. 

The balloon was linked to an American company. 

The news source quoted two U.S. officials who are acquainted with the intelligence assessment, as well as one former official.

The White House intended to keep the balloon's information gathering under wraps, but the Biden administration applied for a warrant from the extremely secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, according to NBC.

Chinese spy balloon used US internet provider to communicate

NBC, which withheld the identity of the company, reported that the internet service provider disputed that the balloon utilized its network.

Following reports that it was seen flying above Montana in February, information about the balloon started to surface.

The Pentagon declared at the time that there was no risk to air travel or ground personnel.

Before shooting the balloon down over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina, the military kept an eye on it as it traveled across the nation.

The Pentagon made public a picture of a U-2 pilot passing over the balloon a few weeks after it was shot down. 

The image gave a close-up view of the balloon and its cargo, which seemed to consist of antennas and solar panels.

China said it was an errant weather balloon and denied it was used for surveillance.

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