Cyber espionage will go on despite treaties

The quaint idea, if it still exists at all, of personal or commercial online privacy suffered another blow this week when America and Britain accused hackers with Chinese government links of cyber-piracy.

America charged two Chinese nationals in the US in relation to a campaign across Europe, Asia, and the US that, according to prosecutors, ignored Chinese international commitments.

A US indictment and British statements accused hackers of breaking into the computers of at least 45 entities, including defence technology companies, Nasa, and the US navy.

China rejected the “slanderous” accusations and urged Washington to withdraw them. Any response to this — alleged — contemporary imperialism must be tempered by the expectation that America and Britain are engaged in cyber spying too — or at least, let us hope they are.

China may want the recipe for Coca-Cola — and much more — but it must be assumed that the Pentagon does all it can to, say, keep abreast of China’s ambitious plans in the South Pacific.

Cyber espionage and theft, as Garda concerns around a proposed extension of Russia’s embassy in Dublin showed, is an international tit-for-tat business that will continue irrespective of various treaties.

It contributes to trade wars and protectionism as well as the lucrative online security industry.

Despite all that, it might be wise to accept a modern truism — if it’s online it’s in view — and behave accordingly.