A group of French lawmakers has expressed serious concerns over cyberattacks they believe are linked to Chinese hackers, calling for governmental action and sanctions. These attacks have been a major topic of conversation as Chinese President Xi Jinping begins a state visit to France.
According to Politico, the attacks occurred in 2021 and were part of a larger scheme that targeted members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group of international lawmakers critical of Beijing’s policies.
French Senator Olivier Cadic highlighted the severity of the issue at a press briefing, stating, “We cannot allow such a campaign of cyberattacks against the elected representatives of the French people to go unanswered.”
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The lawmakers affected by these cyberattacks, including Olivier Cadic, Constance Le Grip, and former minister André Vallini, believe that the hacker group APT31, which is said to have ties to the Chinese government, was behind the attacks. AFP news reports that these officials received over 1,000 virus-infected emails, raising alarms over foreign interference and data security.
Despite these allegations, French security services have traditionally refrained from directly accusing other nations of cyberattacks, a stance that differs from actions taken by the U.S., the U.K., and New Zealand. In March, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted several Chinese nationals linked to these cyber operations, revealing the scale of the attacks on IPAC members, which included prominent figures like former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and British Minister for Europe Nusrat Ghani.
In light of these developments, the French parliamentarians are pushing for a judicial investigation to formally identify and respond to these cyber threats. They also call for heightened awareness and protection measures for lawmakers against such cyber risks.
As reported by Politico, these demands for action coincide with Xi Jinping‘s visit, which is focused on strengthening political and economic ties between China and Europe amidst tense relations with the U.S.
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