The UK government plans to address the challenge of alleged Chinese cyber interference, including attacks on the Electoral Commission and the leak of voter data, with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden briefing Parliament and potential sanctions being considered.
The UK government is gearing up to tackle alleged Chinese interference in its democratic processes, which includes cyber-attacks on the Electoral Commission and the breach of millions of voters’ personal details. Following the unsettling revelations, sanctions against individuals linked to these activities are being considered.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is slated to brief Parliament on the cyber-attacks attributed to Beijing, targeting politicians and voters alike. The briefing, expected to occur on Monday, will involve discussions on the countermeasures to be taken against those implicated. High-profile politicians like former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and SNP MP Stewart McDonald have been brought up to speed on the matter.
In conjunction with addressing these cyber threats, legislative reforms are underway, particularly through the Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill. This bill aims at strengthening the capabilities of spy agencies in scrutinizing and retaining extensive datasets, such as online telephone records.
Amid these developments, further alarm has been raised by the hacking of critical voter information in a sophisticated cyber-attack linked to China. The disclosure has sparked wider concerns about China’s cyber threat spectrum. As a result, UK MPs, notably those in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, are being briefed on the security implications of these cyber-attacks by entities associated with the Chinese state.
While UK-China relations come under increased scrutiny, controversy also surrounds Chinese battery company EVE’s discussions to invest in a new gigafactory at Coventry Airport. This move, aimed at advancing the UK’s electric car battery supply, raises concerns about heightened reliance on Chinese technology amidst growing tensions.
The UK government has not commented directly on these issues but emphasizes its commitment to bolstering national security and closely monitoring supply chain risks to prevent undue influence or interference in the country’s democratic and technological landscape.
