MPs and peers start inquiry into Russian and Chinese sabotage threats to subsea internet cables

MPs and peers have initiated an investigation into the UK’s capacity to safeguard undersea internet cables that connect the country with the rest of the world, in light of increased threats of sabotage from Russia, China, and other adversarial states.

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, which oversees government actions on national security, is looking to evaluate the UK’s preparedness for potential attacks on critical undersea communication cables.

This inquiry comes in response to a statement made by Defence Secretary John Healey in Parliament this week, cautioning that Russian President Vladimir Putin is focusing on the UK’s undersea oil, gas, electricity, and internet cables following the incursion of a Russian spy ship into British waters.

Healey disclosed that the research vessel Yantar was involved in “collecting intelligence and mapping the UK’s crucial underwater infrastructure” after being detected in UK waters on January 20, 2025. He directly addressed Putin, stating, “We see you, we know what you are doing, and we will not hesitate to take strong action to safeguard this country.”

According to Matt Western, the chairman of the parliamentary committee, 99% of the nation’s data flows through undersea internet cables, making them a vulnerable target for actions by foreign states seeking to harm the UK covertly.

“As the geopolitical situation deteriorates, foreign states are exploring asymmetric means to pose a threat to us,” he remarked. “Our internet cable network appears to be an increasingly exposed weak spot. While there is no need for alarm – we possess a significant level of resilience, and awareness of the challenge is growing – we must be realistic about the risks and repercussions: an attack of this nature would have severe consequences.”

The global internet, crucial for international communications and commerce, relies on a network of 500 cables that handle 95% of internet traffic. These cables are often situated in remote locations, making monitoring them a challenging and costly endeavor.