Engineers in China have access to sensitive Defense Department systems – including classified military info. Something that started in 2016 by Microsoft to take advantage of ‘cheaper labor’
Microsoft has been using engineers in China to help maintain a portion of the DOD’s most sensitive computer systems for nearly a decade, according to a recent investigation.
This setup involves a little-known program called “digital escorts,” where American citizens allegedly supervise foreign workers – FROM THE US – as the engineers in China access the Pentagon’s cloud networks.
Escorts are often entry-level staff with limited tech expertise and get paid minimum wage.
They use monitoring via tools like Microsoft Teams.
They can’t always see everything the foreign engineer does, and sessions can last hours with minimal intervention.
Escorts say they sometimes feel pressured to approve actions quickly without deep checks.
Experts worry escorts aren’t qualified to spot subtle hacks or data exfiltration; however Microsoft says this complies with rules since escorts “control” access.
The DoD bans non- citizens from directly handling top-secret data to prevent spying or leaks; however Microsoft found a work-around by creating the “digital escort” system that way Chinese engineers could access sensitive national security systems like Azure Government, which hosts classified military info – and fix issues at a cheaper rate for the company.
