A Taiwanese hacking group called Anonymous 64 is gaining attention for its cyberattacks on mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
China’s national security ministry has reported that this group is actively targeting these regions and has urged internet users to report any incidents of “anti-propaganda sabotage.”
Since the start of the year, Anonymous 64—identified by the ministry as part of Taiwan’s cyber warfare unit—has been focused on uploading and broadcasting content that questions the mainland’s political system and key policies across various platforms, including websites and television.
Taiwan often accuses Chinese entities of spreading disinformation and launching cyberattacks against the democratically governed island. Meanwhile, China has increased military and political pressure, asserting its claim over Taiwan.
According to its X account, Anonymous 64 was established in June 2023 and has shared videos depicting Chinese President Xi Jinping as an emperor. These broadcasts align with the second anniversary of protests against Beijing’s strict COVID policies and the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. One video features a member of the group wearing the iconic Guy Fawkes mask, reminiscent of “V for Vendetta.”
Neither the X account nor China’s national security ministry has linked Anonymous 64 to any international hacking organizations. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council did not respond to requests for comment.
Reuters has been unable to verify the group’s location or the authenticity of the hacking incidents attributed to them. In a blog post on its WeChat account, China’s national security ministry claimed that many websites allegedly associated with Anonymous 64 were either fraudulent or had little traffic. The ministry also suggested that the group’s assertions of infiltrating university and media sites were fabricated.
The security ministry released redacted screenshots from the group’s X account and announced an investigation into three members of Taiwan’s cyber warfare unit. The blog post encouraged users not to spread rumors and to promptly report cyberattacks or instances of anti-propaganda to national security authorities.