In an emergency statement to the House of Commons, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said the National Cyber Security Center believed a hacker group linked to the Chinese state was “very likely” to have attacked the UK’s Electoral Commission’s electronic systems in the 2021- 22.
In addition, London accuses the also-aligned Chinese state hacking group APT31 of “almost certainly” attempting in 2021 to gain access to the details of four members of the House of Commons and Lords, staunch critics of Beijing.
Mr Dowden assured that these cyber-attacks did not affect electoral processes and did not compromise parliamentary electronic accounts.
Nevertheless, in the first case, access was gained to the private details of millions of citizens registered in the electoral rolls.
As the Foreign Office emphasized in a statement, “this is the latest activity in a clear pattern of malicious cyber activity by organizations linked to the Chinese state.”
Mr Dowden announced in London’s response the imposition of sanctions once morest a company and two individuals linked to APT31.
As it became known during the session in the House of Commons, the Chinese ambassador in London has been summoned to the Foreign Office for explanations. The Chinese embassy responded by dismissing the accusations as false and slanderous.
Mr Dowden defended the government’s response to criticism from MPs that it was “too little, too late”, saying it took time to gather and examine the evidence regarding who was behind the cyber attacks.
Meanwhile, sources in the Daily Telegraph have said there is concern in British government echelons regarding the involvement of “enemy states” such as Russia, Iran and China in peddling conspiracy theories regarding Princess of Wales Kate Middleton.
Mitsotakis at the Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive country for investment – What he said regarding the postal vote
A breather for Trump: He can save his fortune with $175 million
Tragedy in the Philippines: At least 17 dead in a road accident
Vili Saniol: “We will beat Greece and qualify”
UN: Security Council approves cease-fire resolution for first time
Carnage in Moscow: These are the two teenagers who saved dozens
#Britain #Blames #China #data #leak #millions #voters
