Healthcare entities that are conducting research related to COVID-19 treatment should note that U.S. intelligence officials have detected possible interference from foreign actors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported in early July that it detected threats from China related to U.S. COVID-19 treatment and intellectual property.
.In an interview with the Washington Post, FBI Director Christopher Wray indicated that Chinese cyber actors have attempted to steal intellectual property, public health records, and information about vaccines, treatments, and testing from U.S. medical facilities, biotech labs, and academic institutions to send to the Chinese government.