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Italy to extradite suspected Chinese hacker wanted by US authorities: reports

The Italian government has decided ⁠⁠to extradite a ⁠⁠Chinese man wanted ⁠⁠by US authorities on hacking charges that include stealing Covid-19 medical research, a person…

By Samantha Johnson / April 26, 2026

The Italian government has decided ⁠⁠to extradite a ⁠⁠Chinese man wanted ⁠⁠by US authorities on hacking charges that include stealing Covid-19 medical research, a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The government’s decision, which was ‌‌first reported by Bloomberg, follows a ruling by an Italian court earlier this month which said Xu Zewei could be extradited.

A representative for Italy’s government declined to comment. Xu’s lawyer Enrico Giarda told Reuters that his client ⁠⁠had not received any communications on the matter so far.

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Xu was ‌‌arrested in Milan on July 3 at the request of US authorities, who have accused him ‌‌of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his ⁠⁠alleged role ⁠⁠in computer piracy acts that took place between February 2020 and June 2021.

Following ‌his arrest, Xu’s lawyer said his client had been a victim of mistaken ‌identity.

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The US ‌Justice Department alleges that Xu has been hacking and ‌stealing crucial Covid-19 research at the behest of the Chinese government.

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