China accuses US of using 'national security' as pretext to maintain cyberspace hegemony

China has labelled United States “biggest threat to global cybersecurity," accusing it of using national security as a pretext to keep its “hegemony in cyberspace” intact. remarks were me by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning in response to latest White House executive order that cracks down on use of spy technology.

Ning said that order would be of no use to alter fact that US is “biggest threat" to cybersecurity across globe which still targets foreign states and companies “under pretexts of national security and human rights without any evidence." Beijing said that Washington “knowingly abuses technology” for espionage and or malicious purposes, according to RT.

“ US government, in an attempt to maintain its hegemony in cyberspace, knowingly abuses technology for cyber surveillance and ft of secrets,” Ning told press on Friday, exhorting US to “stop its global hacking operations.” Chinese spokesperson's remarks come on heels of US President Joe Biden's new executive order that seeks a ban on “commercial spyware that poses risks to national security or has been misused by foreign actors."

US government's shy deal with Israeli firm comes to fore

During briefing, a reporter also noted that Biden ministration's move was a sharp juxtaposition to its previous work with Israeli cyber surveillance firm NSO Group. Earlier this week, New York Times reported that US government struck a "secret" deal with company through a front organisation two years ago.

contract permitted officials to use firm's ‘Landmark’ geolocation tool to secretly monitor “thousands” of cellular device users across Mexico. Furrmore, contract “allows for Landmark to be used against mobile numbers in United States,” although outlet noted that it was unable to gar any evidence on it.