329/68 Tuesday, September 9, 2025
The National Cyber and Information Security Agency of the Czech Republic (NUKIB) has issued a warning about cyber threats linked to China, highlighting that Chinese technologies and equipment are increasingly infiltrating critical sectors such as energy, healthcare, transportation, and government agencies. This poses a risk to national security, particularly through devices and services that can connect to the internet, transmit data, or be remotely controlled, including CCTV cameras, electric vehicles, smart meters, medical equipment, and large-scale AI models.
NUKIB explained that critical infrastructure now relies heavily on cloud-based data storage and processing, as well as cross-border network connectivity that allows foreign providers direct access to and control over systems. If such providers are tied to countries with strict data laws-such as China-there is an increased risk that sensitive information could be accessed or manipulated. The agency also referenced cyberattacks attributed to APT31, a China-linked group that breached Czech ministries in 2022, a case only recently disclosed.
Although Czech authorities have not imposed a ban on Chinese equipment, they have urged all organizations covered by national cybersecurity laws to take these risks seriously and adopt appropriate safeguards. The public has also been advised to exercise caution when using such technologies and to carefully consider what information they share. NUKIB emphasized that Chinese law grants the government authority to access private company data and compel cooperation in state espionage-an unavoidable risk in the digital era. Citizens are therefore encouraged to remain vigilant about personal data security and make more cautious choices when adopting technology.
