UK to accuse China of major hack as Beijing warns against 'smears'

Summary

1. The UK government is expected to accuse China of cyber-attacks which accessed personal details of millions of voters
2. The attacks on the Electoral Commission took place in August 2021 but were only revealed last year. At the time it said the attacks had no impact on elections
3. Several MPs and peers who have been critical of Beijing are thought to have also been targeted in cyber-attacks
4. Deputy PM Oliver Dowden will address Parliament on Monday about the threat - the BBC understands other Western nations will set out similar concerns
5. It is thought Dowden will say those behind the Electoral Commission hack had links to Beijing, as well as laying out the UK response
6. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls China "the greatest state-based threat to our economic security" and says "it's right we take measures to protect ourselves"
7. China has hit back at "smears" and says counties should not make baseless accusations over cyber-security or spread "false information"