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Chinese National Arrested in Italy for Alleged COVID-19 Vaccine Hacking
A Chinese man has been arrested in Italy at the request of US authorities, accused of being part of a hacking operation targeting COVID-19 research. The arrest of 33-year-old Xu Zewei at Milan’s Malpensa Airport marks a significant development in the ongoing pursuit of hackers linked to foreign intelligence services.
According to a US indictment unsealed Tuesday, Xu, along with another individual believed to be in China, allegedly worked on behalf of China’s Ministry of State Security. Their objective was to steal valuable research data related to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and testing from American universities and scientists. The alleged activity occurred during the height of the pandemic in early 2020.
Xu appeared in an Italian court on Tuesday, where he denied any involvement in the case, according to his lawyer. He claimed to be an IT manager for a Shanghai-based company. The US Justice Department is seeking Xu’s extradition to Texas, where he faces charges including wire fraud, identity theft, and hacking-related offenses.
While the indictment doesn’t name specific institutions targeted, the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston confirmed it was among those affected. The university expressed gratitude to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies for their work on the investigation.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington stated he was unaware of Xu’s case, but reiterated China’s previous position on similar accusations, denying any need or intention to steal vaccine research.
This arrest follows a 2020 advisory from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warning of Chinese-affiliated actors targeting US organizations conducting COVID-19 research. The arrest underscores the challenges in pursuing these cases, as well as the importance of international cooperation in apprehending individuals accused of such crimes. Experts believe this arrest, while unlikely to have an immediate impact on Chinese hacking activities, sends a strong message about the potential consequences for those involved.