China Accesses UK GP Records Amid Security Warnings

Half a million anonymized UK GP records are set to be accessed by researchers from China via the UK Biobank, despite warnings from MI5 and other Western intelligence agencies about the potential misuse of such data by Chinese authorities. The UK Biobank, a research hub housing medical data from 500,000 volunteers, has approved the access, with one in five granted applications coming from China. Critics, including former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, express concerns over national security risks, suggesting that China could use the data for strategic advantages, including the development of targeted weapons. NHS England has audited the data-sharing process, and the government insists that security and privacy remain priorities, sharing data only with legitimate researchers. However, the decision is seen partly as a strategic move to maintain economic relations with China amid other geopolitical tensions. Concerns remain about the potential identification of individuals despite anonymization efforts.