In a recent revelation, it has come to light that several European politicians have been victims of cyber-attacks orchestrated by Chinese hackers. Among the affected is Belgian MP Samuel Cogolati from the Écolo party, who has openly criticized Europe’s insufficient response to these threats.
An investigation in the US has unveiled that a significant number of European representatives, including Cogolati, were targeted by a group known as APT 31, which is believed to be connected to Chinese intelligence. This group reportedly launched cyber-attacks against politicians, journalists, and activists who support democracy, especially those speaking out against issues in regions like Xinjiang and Hong Kong, as well as in Europe and the US.
The method used by these hackers involved sending malicious emails under the guise of being from reputable American journalists. These emails contained links that, when clicked, allowed the attackers to collect critical information such as the recipient’s location and IP address.
Cogolati, known for his advocacy against the mistreatment of Uyghur Muslims in China, expressed his concern over Europe’s passive stance on cybersecurity compared to the more assertive approaches of the US and the UK. The US Department of Justice’s disclosure of the attack details and the identification of the culprits has highlighted the issue further. The UK has also taken steps by sanctioning APT 31 after discovering their role in hacking campaigns against China-critical parliamentarians.
The situation is alarming, with reports indicating that about 40 million voters in the UK had their data compromised by a Chinese state-supported hacker. Yet, the response from the European Commission and individual Member States has been notably muted, despite the direct targeting of European parliamentarians by what Cogolati describes as a “dictatorial regime.”
Cogolati’s frustrations are particularly aimed at Belgian leadership, condemning their lack of decisive action following the 2023 cyber-attack on him. He points out a “lack of political will” among key Belgian officials, including Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Foreign Affairs Minister Hadja Lahbib, and Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden, to confront and address the growing threat of cyber espionage.
This incident has sparked a debate on the need for a stronger and more unified response from Europe to protect its political figures and citizens from foreign cyber threats, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity in maintaining the integrity of democratic institutions and personal privacy.
