WASHINGTON — A suspected China-aligned hacking group has impersonated U.S. artificial intelligence and foreign policy experts in an effort to target fewer than 10 people involved in AI regulation, national strategy and export controls, according to cybersecurity firm Proofpoint
Targets Included Think Tanks, Universities and Law Firms
Proofpoint identified the group as TA419. Its targets included individuals working at think tanks, universities, defense companies and law firms in the United States and Japan.
The campaign appeared focused on people involved in AI policymaking and related national-security issues.
Hackers Impersonated Former U.S. Officials
The hackers impersonated prominent experts, including Lynne Parker, a former principal deputy director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Heidi Crebo-Rediker, a former State Department economist.
The attackers initially sent emails proposing legitimate-looking AI collaborations. Some invited recipients to join a fictitious “AI Policy Advisory Committee,” while others referred to a supposed Senate report on AI export controls and supply chains.
After communication was established, the hackers directed targets to websites designed to steal cloud account passwords.
Alex Engler Was Among the Targets
Reuters identified Alex Engler, head of the Penn Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy and a former White House official, as one of the targets.
Engler received an email appearing to come from Parker that invited him to participate in an AI policy project. He told Reuters the message “felt slightly, nebulously off.” After consulting colleagues, he determined that the email was an impersonation.
Parker confirmed that Engler was one of two people who reported receiving suspicious messages using her identity.
TA419 Has Conducted Similar Campaigns
Proofpoint said TA419 has conducted similar targeting operations since at least 2025, including against organizations and experts working on AI and national-security issues.
Proofpoint assesses TA419 as a China-aligned, espionage-motivated group. China has previously denied conducting cyberespionage operations.
Parker told Reuters that the alleged targeting is consistent with the wider competition between the United States and China over AI and AI policy.
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