Online document dump reveals Chinese state hacking, surveillance, and propaganda

A rare online dump of documents showed the hacking range of the Chinese state. The papers belonged to a private contractor that works closely with Government agencies.

Experts cited by AP News and their Chinese correspondents called the leak a “rare window” into the spying and social control services the company, I-Soon, provided.

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According to the news agency, the leaked contracts, marketing presentations, product manuals, and client lists provide details on how they surveil dissidents and hack organizations.

It also showed the Government's methods to push Chinese-friendly narratives on social media and access private accounts or emails.

The AP said the documents detailed operations in sensitive territories, like Hong Kong, where several protests have happened, or Taiwan.

According to the AP, the documents showed hacking tools were used to unveil X (Twitter) users, break into emails, and use devices disguised as power strips and batteries to compromise WiFi networks.

The firm was a contractor for the Ministry of Public Security, eleven provincial-level security bureaus, and local security departments.

The targets were also high profile, including ethnic minorities, dissidents behind protests, and even other Governments and ministries.

According to the documents, the company was helping the police track Uyghurs in Central and Southeast Asia. The Chinese Government oppresses the ethnic minority.

France Press, which also accessed the documents, claims that at least close to a dozen governments were targets of the company's hacking efforts.

The documents mainly showed deals to access information from other Asian nations and African and Middle Eastern countries like Nigeria and Afghanistan.

However, according to France Press, there were mentions of attempts to hack the UK. The agency says it found a list of British government targets.

The company also provided services to control and surveil foreign social media platforms, like Facebook. The Chinese Government already has a tight grip on local social media.

AP News claims the source of the leak has not been identified, but it seems likely that they are inside China. However, two workers told the agency that there is an ongoing investigation.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told France Press they were unaware of the document dump and the hacking of other Governments.

The French agency explained the FBI says China has one of the most extensive hacking programs worldwide. China has always denied it and told France Press it firmly opposes cyberattacks.

However, experts from the cybersecurity firm Sentinel One told both AP News and France Press that the document dump is evidence of the vast Chinese hacking capabilities.