Russia in the hot seat … again

A top European Union official on Friday called out Russia for its involvement in recent hacking efforts directed towards the governments of multiple member states, describing these efforts as “unacceptable.”

“Some EU Member States have observed malicious cyber activities, collectively designated as Ghostwriter, and associated these with the Russian state,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said in a statement Friday. “Such activities are unacceptable as they seek to threaten our integrity and security, democratic values and principles and the core functioning of our democracies.”

Borrell noted that the attackers had targeted “numerous members of Parliaments, government officials, politicians, and members of the press and civil society in the EU” through gaining access to networks to steal data.

“These activities are contrary to the norms of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace as endorsed by all UN Member States, and attempt to undermine our democratic institutions and processes, including by enabling disinformation and information manipulation,” Borrell said.

Germany is not happy: Borrell’s comments came two weeks after The New York Times reported that the German federal prosecutor’s office was opening an investigation into a recent spate of Russian-linked phishing emails aimed at German lawmakers ahead of the country’s election this month.