UK holds China state-affiliated organizations responsible for cyber campaigns targeting democratic institutions News
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UK holds China state-affiliated organizations responsible for cyber campaigns targeting democratic institutions

The UK and its global allies held Chinese state-affiliated organizations and individuals responsible for two cyber campaigns targeting democratic institutions and parliamentarians on Monday. Partners across the Indo-Pacific and Europe expressed support for the UK’s efforts in addressing these cyber activities.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) revealed that the UK Electoral Commission systems were likely compromised by a Chinese state-affiliated entity between 2021 and 2022. Additionally, the NCSC assessed that China state-affiliated Advanced Persistent Threat Group 31 (APT31) conducted reconnaissance activities against UK parliamentarians in 2021.

In response to these activities, an ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in London was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The UK also sanctioned a front company and two individuals associated with APT31.

Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Oliver Dowden highlighted the UK government’s determination to defend its democratic system against cyber attacks. Dowden said the UK government will hold China accountable for “ongoing patterns of hostile activity targeting … collective democracies.” Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also strongly condemned the targeting of democratic institutions and political processes by Chinese state-affiliated entities, while emphasizing the UK’s commitment to protecting its democracy.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in London condemned the UK’s “sinister action.” It wrote:

The UK’s claim that China was responsible for malicious cyber campaigns targeting the UK is completely unfounded and constitutes malicious slander. We firmly oppose and strongly condemn this and have made a serious démarche to the UK side … China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs. We have no interest or need to meddle in the UK’s internal affairs … We strongly urge the UK to immediately stop spreading false information about China, stop such self-staged, anti-China farces [] and refrain from going further down the wrong path that leads only to failure.

The UK Electoral Commission previously disclosed on August 8, 2023 that it experienced a cyberattack, which allowed “hostile actors” to access electoral registers containing the names and addresses of voters from 2014 to 2022. The Electoral Commission’s Chief Executive Sean McNally said that significant steps were taken to improve the Electoral Commission’s IT systems.

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