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Belgian prosecutor probes alleged Chinese hacking of intelligence service

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 26, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 25, 2026

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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Belgian federal prosecutor said on Wednesday it had started a probe into alleged Chinese hacking of Belgium's intelligence service VSSE in November 2023, confirming an earlier

Belgian Authorities Investigate Alleged Chinese Cyber Attack on Intelligence

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The Belgian federal prosecutor said on Wednesday it had started a probe into alleged Chinese hacking of Belgium's intelligence service VSSE in November 2023, confirming an earlier report by Belgian daily Le Soir.

The prosecutor added that it had received an accusation filed by VSSE in relation to the case.

The Chinese embassy in Belgium did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Le Soir reported that for two years, hackers allegedly linked to Chinese espionage had exploited a breach in an American cyber company and gained access to 10% of the Belgian intelligence service's emails. While classified data remained safe, the personal information of nearly half of the Belgian service's members may have been compromised, the newspaper reported.

The federal prosecutor did not immediately confirm details of the investigation and added it was too early to share results as the probe was still under way.

The Belgian intelligence service declined to comment and referred to the prosecutor's statement.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Lili Bayer, Editing by William Maclean)

Key Takeaways

  • Belgium investigates alleged Chinese hacking of its intelligence service.
  • The breach reportedly affected 10% of the intelligence service's emails.
  • Classified data was not compromised, but personal information may have been.
  • The investigation is ongoing with no immediate results available.
  • The Chinese embassy has not commented on the allegations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the focus of the Belgian prosecutor's investigation?
The Belgian federal prosecutor is investigating alleged Chinese hacking of Belgium's intelligence service, VSSE, which reportedly began in November 2023.
What did the Belgian intelligence service report?
The VSSE filed an accusation regarding the hacking incident, which is believed to have been linked to Chinese espionage activities.
How did the hackers gain access to the intelligence service?
According to reports, hackers associated with Chinese espionage exploited a breach in an American cyber company, accessing about 10% of the Belgian intelligence service's emails.
What has been the response from the Chinese embassy?
The Chinese embassy in Belgium did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
Is the investigation by the Belgian prosecutor confirmed?
While the Belgian federal prosecutor has confirmed the initiation of the investigation, they have not provided detailed information, stating it is too early to share results.

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