Authorities probe China, US commission hacking

WASHINGTON - Reuters

Indian information technology professionals are seen in this photo. The US is investigating claims that an Indian gov’t unit hacked into emails of an official US commission.

U.S. authorities are investigating allegations that an Indian government spy unit hacked into emails of an official U.S. commission that monitors economic and security relations between the United States and China, including cyber-security issues.

The request for an investigation came after hackers posted on the Internet what purports to be an Indian military intelligence document on cyber-spying, which discusses plans to target the commission - apparently using technical know-how provided by Western mobile phone manufacturers. Appended to the document are transcripts of what are said to be email exchanges among commission members.

“We are aware of these reports and have contacted relevant authorities to investigate the matter. We are unable to make further comments at this time,” Jonathan Weston, a spokesman for the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, said Jan. 9. India would be intensely interested in the official U.S. view of Beijing. New Delhi sees Beijing as a long-term rival. The document’s authenticity could not be independently verified. But the U.S.-China commission is not denying the authenticity of the emails.

The purported memo says that India cut a technological agreement with mobile phone manufacturers “in exchange for the Indian market presence.” It cites three: Research in Motion, maker of the BlackBerry; Nokia; and Apple. Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said her company had not provided the Indian government with backdoor access to its products. A group calling itself the Lords of Dharmaraja said in an internet post that it had uncovered the hacking.