National

PM WeChat hack 'likely state sanctioned'

By AAP Newswire

Jan 24, 2022

SCOTT MORRISON CHINA TRAVEL BAN PRESSER — Prime Minister Scott Morrison's WeChat social media account was hacked earlier this month. -AAP Image

It's likely the hacking of the prime minister's WeChat account was sanctioned by the Chinese government, Liberal MP and former diplomat Dave Sharma says.

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Scott Morrison's account on the Chinese social media platform was rebranded to "Australian Chinese new life" earlier this month, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Mr Sharma says while the prime minister was right to have a WeChat account to try and connect with Australia's Chinese diaspora, the platform was ultimately controlled by the Chinese communist party.

"More likely than not it was state sanctioned and it shows the attitude towards free speech and freedom of expression that comes out of Beijing," he told Sky News on Monday.

Liberal chair of a parliamentary intelligence and security committee James Paterson said the action was very concerning, with Mr Morrison being the only political target known to him.

Senator Paterson called all Australian politicians to boycott the platform.

"What the Chinese government has done by shutting down an Australian account is foreign interference of Australian democracy in an election year," he told Sydney radio station 2GB.

"No politician should be on WeChat and legitimising their censorship."

Senator Paterson said it was also concerning 1.2 million Chinese Australians who use the service couldn't access news from the prime minister, but could still see government critiques on the platform from opposition leader Anthony Albanese.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press