The role of the Chinese regime in hacking sensitive information just became even creepier:
Reporters Without Borders is deeply disturbed and outraged by cyber-attacks on the Google E-mail accounts of several Beijing-based foreign journalists. The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) sent its members a note today alerting them that at least two foreign news bureaux in Beijing have been the target of attacks by hackers.
The warning follows Google’s revelation that the Gmail accounts of several dozen Chinese human rights activists were the target of sophisticated attacks in December.
“The hackers who targeted foreign journalists based in Beijing were probably trying to get contact details and information about the human rights activists who talk to the international press,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Compromising these reporters’ communication methods endangers and intimidates their sources and constitutes a serious violation of their privacy, their professional work and their freedom to provide news and information.”
The press freedom organisation added: “We firmly condemn these attacks and we call on the ministry of industry and information technology to provide an explanation.”
An APTN journalist whose account was hacked told Reporters Without Borders told Reporters Without Borders that her emails were being forwarded to another, unknown account. “I have the feeling that my privacy has been violated,” she told Reporters Without Borders on condition of anonymity. “And so many people have been put in danger by these leaks, it’s terrible.”