March 26, 2024
Tough talk to China ambassador after parliament hack
The Government Communications Security Bureau and Minister Judith Collins have confirmed China was linked to 2021 hack of IT systems within parliament.
New Zealand has joined condemnation of China’s latest alleged cyber attack, which was aimed at the United Kingdon’s Electoral Commission and members of the UK Parliament.
The United States and Australia are also calling out Beijing over a sweeping cyber-espionage campaign in multiple countries that allegedly hit millions of people, including lawmakers, academics and journalists.
Ms Collins says the New Zealand GCSB completed a robust technical assessment after the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Parliamentary Servicewere hit with malicious cyber activity in 2021.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon ruled out out sanctions against China at this time.
“This is a first for New Zealand, publicly attributing a malicious cyber activity on our democratic insitutitions by China. It’s a big step for us and obviously MFAT will be underscoring our message with the embassy today,” he says.
This latest breach follows revelations this month the GCSB hosted of a signals intelligence system deployed by a foreign agency, almost certainly one of its Five Eyes partners, without informing ministers.