Britain is set to announce measures against cyber organizations and individuals affiliated with the Chinese government for a series of malicious cyber activities targeting the U.K.'s election watchdog and lawmakers. The Electoral Commission revealed a breach in its system in October 2022, with "hostile actors" gaining access to information on tens of millions of U.K. voters since 2021. While the data compromised included names and addresses of registered voters, officials assured that it was unlikely to influence election results.

Lawmakers who have been vocal about the China threat, including former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, have reported being harassed, impersonated, and targeted for hacking by individuals linked to China. The politicians are part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group focused on countering Beijing's influence and highlighting alleged rights abuses by the Chinese government. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden is expected to provide more details in Parliament, following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's comments that China poses the greatest state-based threat to the U.K.'s economic security.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to the reports, urging countries to base their claims on evidence rather than spreading false information. The ministry spokesperson emphasized the importance of not politicizing cybersecurity issues and called for cooperation to maintain peace and security in cyberspace. In a separate development, three lawmakers, including Iain Duncan Smith, were reportedly briefed by Parliament's security director on the cyberattacks. The incidents highlight the growing concern over China's aggressive behavior and the need for stronger measures to protect against cyber threats.