US prosecutors on Wednesday announced criminal charges against a dozen Chinese nationals for allegedly hacking a range of US companies, government agencies and municipalities, in some cases for profit and causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage.

US prosecutors have charged 12 Chinese nationals for being part of an alleged hacking scheme, which sold data of US-based dissidents to the Chinese government. The "state-sponsored" operation also targeted government agencies including the Treasury,

Twelve Chinese nationals — including mercenary hackers, law enforcement officers and employees of a private hacking company — have been charged in connection with global cybercrime campaigns targeting dissidents,