Government data stolen in hack, minister confirms
Government data has been accessed in a cyber-attack, but authorities maintain that the threat to individuals is "low," according to Minister Chris Bryant.
The breach is reported to have targeted the Foreign Office's systems. According to reports, a Chinese-affiliated group is suspected of orchestrating the attack. The UK government has not officially named the perpetrator, though a spokesperson confirmed that work is underway to investigate the incident.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Bryant stated that the investigations were "ongoing" and that the security vulnerability had been "closed quickly."
"We suspect that it is at a very low risk that individuals have been compromised or injured," he added.
When pressed on Times Radio, he refused to draw a definitive link to Beijing: "I'm not able to say whether it is directly connected to Chinese operatives or even the Chinese state."
The incident reportedly took place in October, according to The Sun, with breached data possibly including visa information. The incident has been reported to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Rising Tensions
UK intelligence agencies have previously warned of increasing, large-scale espionage from China, utilizing cyber and other technologies to target commercial and political information. Last year, GCHQ stated it was devoting more resources to countering threats from China than from any other region.
"Government facilities are always going to be attacked," Mr Bryant said on Friday. "We're dealing with the repercussions of what this is."
The suggestion of a hack by a Chinese state group presents a diplomatic headache for the government ahead of Sir Keir Starmer's planned visit to Beijing—the first by a UK Prime Minister since 2018.
The Labour government has stated that engaging with China is vital, arguing it cannot be ignored on trade, climate change, and other critical topics. However, it insists that face-to-face meetings provide a platform for robust discussions regarding UK security.
Sir Keir stated earlier this month that UK government policy towards China could not continue to blow "hot and cold." With China acting as a "defining power" in technology, trade, and global governance, he argued that failing to navigate the relationship would be a "dereliction of duty."
He added that building a pragmatic relationship would boost the UK's position as a global leader and help secure national interests, while still acknowledging that China "poses national security risks."
Denial from Beijing
The Chinese government has consistently denied supporting cyber-attacks targeting the UK.
"Accusations such as Chinese espionage, cyber-attacks, and transnational persecution of the UK are completely manufactured, malicious slander," a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London said last year.
While it remains unclear exactly how hackers gained access in this instance, experts point to aging infrastructure as a vulnerability. Jamie MacColl, a senior research fellow in cyber and tech at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told the BBC that "old IT systems" are often still used by government departments.
