UK Issues Sanctions On Chinese Hackers Targeting The Electoral Commission

The UK government has imposed sanctions on nine Chinese individuals and four entities in response to a series of cyber attacks targeting the UK’s Electoral Commission. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the sanctions were a response to “reckless but calculated” hacks directed by China’s Ministry of State Security. The attacks aimed to steal valuable personal details of British citizens.

Citing “clear and compelling evidence” provided by Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Truss stated the Chinese operatives sanctioned today were involved in “hack and leak” operations prior to the UK’s last general election in 2019. She said they had specifically targeted political parties, members of parliament and other public officials. The sanctions will ban the individuals from traveling to the UK and freeze any UK-based assets.

How Did The Attacks Impact The Electoral Commission?

While no data was successfully stolen in the attacks, Truss said the Chinese cyber operations aimed to undermine the UK’s democratic processes and institutions like the Electoral Commission. As the independent regulator of elections and political finance in the UK, the Electoral Commission oversees elections and regulates campaign finances. The Chinese hackers had hoped to gain sensitive information that could be weaponized and leaked online to influence the UK’s democratic processes.

The sanctions send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate state-backed cyber attacks on its democratic infrastructure and processes. Truss warned of more sanctions if the Chinese government continues engaging in hacking operations targeting UK organizations like the Electoral Commission. She said Britain will work closely with allies to address shared threat of Chinese cyber attacks.