US accuses China, Russia of stealing data

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

U.S. intelligence officials accused China and Russia on Thursday of systematically stealing American high-tech data for their own national economic gain.

It was the most forceful and detailed public airing of U.S. allegations after years of private complaints. U.S. officials and cybersecurity experts said the U.S. must openly confront China and Russia in a broad diplomatic push to combat cyber-attacks that are on the rise and represent a “persistent threat to U.S. economic security.”

But experts said solving the problem won’t be easy.

In a report released Thursday, U.S. intelligence agencies said “the governments of China and Russia will remain aggressive and capable collectors of sensitive U.S. economic information and technologies, particularly in cyberspace.”