In a significant escalation of its cybersecurity enforcement, the European Union has slapped sanctions on two Chinese technology companies and barred their senior executives from entering the bloc. The move, formalized by the EU Council on Monday, accuses the firms of playing a central role in malicious cyberattacks targeting member states .
The sanctions target Integrity Technology Group and Anxun Information Technology, both China-based companies. Also blacklisted are two individuals Chen Cheng and Wu Haibo, the co-founders of Anxun Information Technology . According to the official EU decision, these measures are part of the bloc’s framework to combat cyber-attacks that threaten the Union or its member states .
Brussels alleges that between 2022 and 2023, Integrity Technology Group provided technical and material support that facilitated the hacking of more than 65,000 devices across six EU countries . The company’s products, according to the EU, were instrumental in enabling advanced persistent threat (APT) groups to compromise critical infrastructure .
Anxun Information Technology faces even more serious allegations. The EU has characterized the firm as providing “hacking-for-hire” services, specifically targeting critical infrastructure and essential functions within member states and third countries . The two sanctioned executives, Chen and Wu, are accused of directly orchestrating and encouraging these cyber operations . In addition to Anxun, an Iranian entity, Emennet Pasargad, was also sanctioned for alleged cyber activities, including interference during the 2024 Paris Olympics .
The penalties are severe. All assets held by the companies and individuals within the EU are frozen. Moreover, EU citizens and businesses are strictly forbidden from making any funds or economic resources available to them . For Chen Cheng and Wu Haibo, the sanctions carry an additional personal consequence: a travel ban that prohibits them from entering or transiting through any European Union territory .
This action has drawn an immediate response from Beijing. At a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian firmly rejected the measures. He stated that China “firmly opposes the EU’s illegal unilateral sanctions against Chinese entities” and urged Brussels to correct its actions. Lin called on the EU to adopt a responsible and constructive approach, working collaboratively with China to maintain stability and prosperity in cyberspace. The companies have not yet issued public statements on the EU’s decision.
These sanctions add to a growing list of restrictions faced by the two firms internationally. Integrity Technology Group was previously connected by the FBI to a botnet operation and sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in early 2025. Similarly, Anxun Information Technology has been sanctioned by U.S. authorities, who have also offered rewards for information leading to the capture of its executives. Monday’s decision marks one of the largest EU actions against Chinese tech firms to date, bringing the total number of sanctioned individuals under its cyber regime to 19 and entities to seven.
