The U.S. Justice Department has charged 12 Chinese nationals in connection with a hacking operation targeted at U.S. dissidents and government agencies, highlighting ongoing tensions in U.S.-China relations regarding cyber activities.
US Prosecutes 12 Chinese Nationals in Dissidents Hacking Operation
US Prosecutes 12 Chinese Nationals in Dissidents Hacking Operation
Allegations surface against a hack scheme selling US dissidents' data to the Chinese government, raising international cyber-security concerns.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 12 Chinese nationals as part of a significant hacking scheme that allegedly sold sensitive information about U.S.-based dissidents to Chinese authorities. The charges were unsealed in a federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday, though the exact timing remains unclear. According to the DOJ, this operation was described as "state-sponsored" and notably targeted various U.S. government agencies, including the Treasury Department.
The hacking activities extended beyond dissidents, reportedly affecting a religious organization in America that has been critical of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and a Hong Kong newspaper considered opposed to the PRC government. The DOJ did not release specific details about the targeted dissidents, but indicated that hackers charged Chinese government agencies between $10,000 and $75,000 for information regarding exploited email accounts.
Among those charged are two officials linked to China’s Ministry of Public Security, implicated in orchestrating these cyber intrusions. Sue J. Bai, who oversees the DOJ's National Security Division, emphasized the United States' commitment to combating cyber threats and exposed what she termed as "indiscriminate and reckless attacks" on networks worldwide.
The backdrop to these allegations includes previous indictments against Chinese nationals for hacking operations targeting foreign critics, with notable breaches affecting the UK's Electoral Commission and parliamentary bodies of the UK and New Zealand.
China’s response has yet to address these particular allegations, but the government has consistently denied involvement in hacking efforts, previously labeling accusations—including those from the Treasury Department regarding access to employee workstations and documents—as "baseless".
This development sheds light on the ongoing friction between the U.S. and China concerning cyber-security and espionage, reflecting broader concerns about national security and international relations.
