Michael Vatis Interviews with NewsNation on Chinese Cyber Threats and U.S. Cyber Defense Vulnerabilities

Michael Vatis, partner in the firm’s Litigation and Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Groups and founding head of the FBI’s computer crime and infrastructure protection program, was recently interviewed by NewsNation for the story, “US must be wary of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.”

During the interview, Michael examined the ongoing cyber threat from China, emphasizing that such activity has been occurring for years and warning that reduced U.S. cyber defenses have increased vulnerabilities. He highlighted the risks to both national security and everyday Americans, including compromised personal data and the potential disruption of critical infrastructure in a future conflict.

Vatis explained that China’s cyber activity is not new, noting that it has been infiltrating U.S. government, private‑sector and critical infrastructure networks “for many, many years,” but warned that weakened cyber defenses have made such attacks easier to carry out. He pointed to shifting government priorities and staffing reductions as key factors, saying the U.S. has “let our guard down at a time when we should be really ramping it up.” Vatis also emphasized the real‑world impact on Americans, cautioning that millions of individuals’ personal data is already in Chinese hands and that China’s presence within U.S. power grids, pipelines and telecommunications networks poses serious risks in the event of a future conflict.

Watch the full interview here.