US officials revise claims on China hack, now say agencies were targeted

U.S. officials have backpedaled on earlier claims that several government agencies were victims of a Chinese cyber espionage campaign. In a revised statement issued Friday, the Justice Department clarified that organizations including the U.S. Senate, the Federal Reserve, and NASA were "among the targets of QTFY," a Chinese spy platform.

This adjustment follows an announcement on Wednesday regarding an internet domain seizure operation. A previous version of the Justice Department's statement had indicated that these government agencies had been among the hackers' victims. The latest edits aim to ensure the press release accurately reflects the government's allegations presented in the affidavit supporting the domain seizures.

It remains unclear which specific agencies the government now believes were targeted versus those that may have been breached. Messages seeking clarification from the Justice Department, the FBI, and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) were not immediately returned on Friday. The precise scope of the alleged Chinese cyber activity and the extent of any successful intrusions are still being determined.