Chinese Man Wanted for Stealing Covid Data Held in Italy: US
The United States Department of Justice has made a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat cybercrime and intellectual property theft, with the arrest of a Chinese state-sponsored contract hacker in Italy. Xu Zewei, a 37-year-old Chinese national, was taken into custody last week at the request of the US government.
According to the US Department of Justice, Xu is alleged to be a member of a hacking group that stole sensitive COVID-19 vaccine secrets from the US on behalf of Chinese intelligence agencies during the height of the pandemic in 2020. The Chinese government has previously denied any involvement in the theft of intellectual property related to the pandemic.
The arrest is a significant development in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, and underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating these types of threats. The US Department of Justice has been working closely with Italian authorities to bring Xu to justice, and the arrest is a testament to the effectiveness of this collaboration.
The hacking group, which is believed to have been sponsored by the Chinese government, is alleged to have stolen a significant amount of sensitive data related to COVID-19 vaccine development, including intellectual property and trade secrets. The stolen data was then used by Chinese companies to accelerate their own vaccine development efforts, giving them a significant advantage over their international competitors.
The theft of this sensitive data was a major blow to the global effort to develop an effective COVID-19 vaccine, and had significant implications for public health. The US Department of Justice has stated that the theft of this data was a major concern, and that the arrest of Xu is a significant step towards holding those responsible accountable.
Xu was arrested in Italy at the request of the US government, and is currently being held in custody pending extradition to the US. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The US Department of Justice has stated that the arrest of Xu is a significant victory in the fight against cybercrime, and underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating these types of threats. The agency has been working closely with Italian authorities to bring Xu to justice, and the arrest is a testament to the effectiveness of this collaboration.
“This arrest is a significant victory in the fight against cybercrime and intellectual property theft,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “We will continue to work closely with our international partners to bring those responsible for these types of crimes to justice.”
The arrest of Xu is a significant development in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, and underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating these types of threats. The US Department of Justice will continue to work closely with its international partners to bring those responsible for these types of crimes to justice, and to protect the intellectual property and national security of the United States.
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