The British government is likely to accuse hackers connected to the Chinese government of carrying out cyberattacks on the UK’s election watchdog and some lawmakers.
Officials are expected to announce actions against cyber organizations and individuals linked to China for these attacks, which may have accessed data on millions of UK voters held by the Electoral Commission.
The commission detected a cyberattack on its system in October 2022, revealing that hackers had been able to access its servers since 2021. While the data included voter names and addresses, much was already public, and the commission believed it wouldn’t affect election results.
Additionally, Parliament’s security director briefed three lawmakers, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, about these cyberattacks.
They are part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and a group focused on countering China’s influence and highlighting alleged human rights violations by the Chinese government.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is expected to provide more information in Parliament. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized China’s assertive behavior abroad, calling it the greatest threat to the UK’s economic security. He stated that protective measures are necessary but didn’t give specifics.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged countries to base their accusations on evidence rather than spreading baseless claims. The ministry spokesperson emphasized that cybersecurity shouldn’t be politicized and urged cooperation to maintain peace and security in cyberspace.