Details of millions of UK voters hacked by Chinese state, ministers will say

Millions of voters' personal information is believed to have been accessed in an attack orchestrated by China on Britain’s democratic process, according to statements expected from government ministers.

Among the 43 individuals reportedly targeted by cyber-attacks backed by the Chinese state are MPs, peers, and government officials. The UK is considering imposing sanctions on those involved in these state-backed interference activities, including a separate attack on the Electoral Commission that led to the exposure of personal details of approximately 40 million voters.

The full details of these attacks will be outlined by ministers on Monday, with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden likely to inform parliament of Beijing's involvement in this series of cyber-attacks.

In response to mounting pressure for action, reports indicate strong consideration of imposing sanctions on individuals linked to the alleged cyber activities. A select group of politicians with strong views on China, including former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former minister Tim Loughton, crossbench peer Lord Alton, and SNP MP Stewart McDonald, have been briefed by parliament’s director of security, Alison Giles, regarding these incidents.

These individuals are part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (Ipac), a group focused on issues concerning China's assertive global presence. Some of those affected are reportedly planning to address the situation publicly on Monday, although a government spokesperson declined to comment on Sunday.

During a recent Ipac meeting, Luke de Pulford, Ipac's executive director, mentioned past public confirmations by Belgian and French foreign ministries regarding Chinese-sponsored cyber-attacks against their members. He noted Beijing's overt intention to target foreign politicians who oppose its agenda.

In a related development, a US army intelligence analyst was arrested earlier this month on charges of conspiring to sell sensitive defense information to China.

Meanwhile, legislative reforms aimed at updating UK spying laws, including the Investigatory Powers (Amendment) Bill, are progressing through parliament. The bill, intended to enhance the UK's investigatory powers framework in response to evolving threats, includes provisions to facilitate agencies' examination and retention of bulk datasets.

If enacted, these updates will address deficiencies identified in the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, as highlighted in a statutory review published by the Home Office in February 2023.