UK government in talks with LinkedIn to combat Chinese espionage
What's the story
The UK government is in talks with LinkedIn to tackle the growing threat of Chinese espionage. The discussions were prompted by a recent alert from MI5, Britain's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), a part of the UK's security services, is leading these talks with social media platforms like LinkedIn.
Espionage alert
MI5 warns of espionage attempts via LinkedIn
MI5 recently warned MPs and peers about a "covert and calculated" attempt at espionage via two LinkedIn profiles linked to the Chinese intelligence service. The agency said these accounts, masquerading as recruiters, were trying to gain "insider insights" into British politics. The profiles were identified as Amanda Qiu from BP-YR Executive Search and Shirly Shen from InternshipUnion. Both have since been removed by LinkedIn for violating its terms of service.
Broader threat
Warning extends beyond LinkedIn
MI5's warning wasn't just about the two LinkedIn profiles. The agency noted that operatives often prefer to move conversations to encrypted platforms, targeting think tank employees and geopolitical consultants. Bryn Harris, chief legal counsel at the Free Speech Union, revealed he received three approaches this year from people claiming to be interested in his work on academic freedom.
Personal encounter
Harris's experience with potential espionage attempts
Harris was contacted by three different people through Gmail accounts, all seemingly interested in his work. A private threat assessment later revealed that these senders were actually based in the Asia-Pacific region, not the US as they had claimed. The first contact, Lala Chen, expressed interest in a discussion about "the balance between academic freedom and campus management power" in higher education today.
IBM connection
Second contact claimed to work for IBM research center
The second contact, Ailin Chen, claimed to work at an IBM research center and praised the FSU's "invaluable" written submission to the higher education bill. She also suggested moving their conversation to WhatsApp. The third contact, Emily Emily, claimed she worked for Google's AI division and complimented Harris's research papers. She expressed a desire for a long-term partnership with him as a full-time technical advisor.
Warning rationale
MI5's alert not linked to specific incidents
MI5's alert wasn't in response to a single incident involving Qiu or Shen, but rather the scale of their recruitment efforts. The agency wanted to provide people with "information they need to identify risk" and hoped that politicians and those working with them would think about their online activity. No timeline has been given for Qiu or Shen's activities, which also covered other European countries.