The Australian government has backed a new raft of EU sanctions targeting Chinese and Iranian entities and individuals responsible for a range of cyber attacks targeting European nations.
The Council of the European Union announced sanctions against two Chinese companies, two Chinese individuals, and one Iranian company on 16 March, outlining their malicious activity and the scope of the sanctions.
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“I join my colleagues across the Australian government in supporting the imposition of sanctions by the EU in response to malicious cyber activity behind significant compromises of devices,” Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, said in a post on LinkedIn.
“The scale and severity of malicious activity in the online domain remains an increasing concern. Australia is committed to promoting a rules-based cyber space, grounded in international law and norms of responsible behaviour.”
The Chinese firm, the Integrity Technology Group, provided products and technical support to assist in the targeting of more than 65,000 devices across six member states between 2022 and 2023, while Anxun Information Technology, another Chinese company, provided hacking services that targeted the critical infrastructure of EU countries and third parties.
“The two Chinese individuals also listed today by the council are co-founders of the company and were responsible for and involved in cyber attacks affecting EU member states,” the EU Council said.
The EU also said Iranian company Emennet Pasargad had compromised a French subscriber database and advertised its contents for sale on the dark web, in addition to spreading disinformation via hacked billboards during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“Those listed today under both regimes are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them,” the council said.
“Natural persons also face a travel ban that prohibits them from entering or transiting through EU territories.”
LTGEN McGuinness’ comments followed a similar endorsement by Australia’s ambassador for cyber affairs and critical technology, Jessica Hunter.
“Australia supports the EU [in] calling out malicious cyber activity behind significant compromises of devices, and offensive cyber espionage. This malicious activity threatens the stability and predictability of cyber space,” Hunter said.
“Australia calls on all cyber actors to act responsibly, and for all states to act in accordance with international law and the norms of responsible state behaviour in cyber space.”
