Officials from the United Kingdom and the United States accused hackers linked to the Chinese regime on Monday (25) of conducting malicious cyber campaigns targeting democratic institutions, ordinary people, politicians and internal processes in Western countries.
British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden announced in the country's parliament that two cyber attacks had been launched against the Electoral Commission and members of the UK Parliament, aimed at “undermining the integrity of democratic institutions”.
According to Dowden, the relentless and uncompromising attacks on the security of British elections were attributed to a group identified as APT31, which was described as an “agent aligned with the Chinese regime”.
“I can confirm that agents linked to the Chinese government are responsible for two cyber campaigns targeting our democratic and parliamentary institutions,” Dowden said.
Dowden stressed that such actions “will not affect the way citizens vote or participate in democratic processes,” but stressed the need to “expose and hold China accountable for these hostile actions.”
On the other side of the Atlantic, the US Justice Department unveiled indictments against seven Chinese hackers from the same group that attacked the United Kingdom, accusing them of carrying out a global campaign of cyberattacks aimed at suppressing critics of the Chinese regime. Compromising US and government agencies, as well as stealing trade secrets.
The discovery of the global Chinese cyber campaign came about through an operation by the US government. In an indictment filed on Monday, the United States says Chinese hackers were able to compromise the work accounts, personal emails, online storage and phone call records of millions of Americans, including politicians.
Following the allegations, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions against the Chinese science and technology company Wuhan Xiaoruishi and two Chinese nationals, all of whom were accused of collaborating in the attacks.
Britain's deputy prime minister said the country should summon China's ambassador to clarify the attacks. (with EFE Agency)
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