Philippine senator says China must do more to combat cybercrime gangs

Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — China should do more to crack down on illegal online gambling and scam call centers run by Chinese criminal syndicates in Southeast Asian countries, often using forced labor, a Philippine senator leading an investigation into the centers said Friday. The U.N. human rights office has said such gangs have forced hundreds of thousands of people to participate in online scams, including fake romance novels, false investment pitches and illegal gambling schemes. Sen. Risa Hontiveros also called for stronger international cooperation to end cybercrime, saying the gangs undermine the rule of law and could provide a platform for espionage activities, though she acknowledged there is no clear evidence linking the gambling centers to Chinese surveillance operations.