London: British cyber experts announced on Wednesday that politicians, election officials, and other high-risk individuals in the UK will receive support to safeguard against cyberattacks by foreign adversaries ahead of an anticipated election later this year.
The British government has expressed concerns about the growing threat to democracy posed by disinformation campaigns and the proliferation of fake AI-generated content online, as well as attempts by foreign entities to meddle in the political process.
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and British security authorities have cautioned about the activities of Russian intelligence operatives and groups associated with the Chinese government, targeting British institutions and individuals, including lawmakers.
In December, the UK’s foreign ministry imposed sanctions on two Russian hackers allegedly working on behalf of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) to infiltrate the personal email accounts of politicians, journalists, and other groups.
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While Moscow has denied allegations of digital espionage campaigns, China has dismissed British claims of Chinese espionage and cyberattacks as exaggerated.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a division of Britain’s GCHQ spy agency, emphasized that election candidates’ and officials’ accounts are prime targets for cyber espionage operations.
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“Individuals who play important roles in our democracy are an attractive target for cyber actors seeking to disrupt or otherwise undermine our open and free society,” stated Jonathon Ellison, NCSC director for national resilience and future technology.
To mitigate risks, those identified as high-risk targets will receive enhanced cybersecurity measures for their personal devices, including protection against malware, spear-phishing, and other cyber threats.
