The plans of both companies are being adjusted following concerns from the US government about espionage from China.
Google and Facebook submitted plans for a submarine cable from the US to Taiwan, the Philippines and Hong Kong in 2017. But those plans are now being adjusted so that only the first two destinations are worked out.
According to Bloomberg, the change comes at the insistence of the US Department of Justice that telecom regulator FCC would have asked to refuse the application in its original form.
The main fear of the American government is that China could collect personal data from Americans with such a cable.
For example, for the project in Hong Kong, Google and Facebook are collaborating with Pacific Light Data Communication, a daughter of Dr Peng Telecom & Media Group allegedly associated with Chinese intelligence services.
Google confirms to Bloomberg that the original application has been withdrawn and is being reconsidered to connect only to Taiwan and the Philippines.
