US, UK Accuse China of Global Cyberespionage
American and British officials on Monday filed charges, imposed sanctions, and called out Beijing for a sweeping cyberespionage campaign that reportedly affected millions of people – including lawmakers, academics, journalists, and more – according to Reuters.
Officials on both sides of the Atlantic accused the hacking group known as "APT31" of being an arm of China's Ministry of State Security. They listed a range of targets: White House staffers, US senators, British lawmakers, and government officials around the world who are critical of Beijing. Defence contractors, dissidents, and security companies were also hit, officials said.
In an indictment unsealed Monday against seven of the alleged Chinese hackers involved, US prosecutors said the hacking led to the confirmed or potential compromise of service accounts, personal emails, online storage systems, and phone call records belonging to millions of Americans.
The alleged goal of the global cyberespionage operation was to "suppress critics of the Chinese regime, compromise government institutions, and steal commercial secrets," Deputy US Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the US charges. However, the Chinese Embassy in London has previously dismissed similar accusations from the UK as "completely fabricated and malicious slanders."
The announcements came as both the UK and US imposed sanctions on a firm they said is a front company for China's Ministry of State Security.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
