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China is reportedly using LinkedIn to recruit spies overseas
PUBLISHED WED, AUG 28 20193:06 AM EDTUP
DATED WED, AUG 28 20193:51 AM EDT
- Chinese spies have been using LinkedIn to seek out potential new foreign recruits, The New York Times reported.
- LinkedIn is ideal for espionage recruitment because it’s a platform where millions of people are looking for jobs, the report said.
- Chinese agents may not be the only ones carrying out recruitment efforts on LinkedIn, but they have appeared to be the most active, according to the Times report.
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CNBC
Here’s why LinkedIn is a ‘gold mine’ for foreign spies digging for corporate and government secrets
PUBLISHED FRI, NOV 8 20198:07 AM ESTUPDATED FRI, NOV 8 201912:08 PM EST
- LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, is the biggest social media target for foreign spies seeking information from corporate and government employees, current and former law enforcement officials say.
- LinkedIn’s unique combination of professional information and implicit promise of financial gain makes it the perfect place for foreign intelligence services to dig for assets.
- LinkedIn says it has been working on the problem for years.
- LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, is the biggest social media target for foreign spies seeking information from corporate and government employees, current and former law enforcement officials say.
- LinkedIn’s unique combination of professional information and implicit promise of financial gain makes it the perfect place for foreign intelligence services to dig for assets.
- LinkedIn says it has been working on the problem for years.
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by Sohil Sinha
February 15, 2021
in Geopolitics
The United Kingdom has waged a war against Chinese propaganda and Chinese spies dwelling inside their traditional borders. Now, China is using the biggest professional platform – LinkedIn, to recruit spies in the UK.
According to reports in the UK, Chinese spies are using LinkedIn to recruit British former military and security officials by offering money in an attempt to obtain state secrets. They are said to be trying to get hold of state secrets by recruiting UK defence contractors, civil servants, and military and security officials.
According to the Times, Intelligence agents try to pose as legitimate employers by building fake profiles on LinkedIn to lure them in. They then offer money, business opportunities and conference fees to former government and private-sector workers who have access to classified information. Trips to China, hotels and their expenses are also reportedly offered.
The most targeted officials are those who’ve had high-security clearances and who showcase their careers on the platform. Moreover, as these spy recruiters are based out of China, this effectively means that sanctions cannot be imposed.
Besides, spies in China actively use LinkedIn because of its 30 million-strong userbase in the country.
Philip Ingram, a former military intelligence officer, said that he was approached by a security firm in Shanghai back in 2017. He added that he quickly grew concerned over the interests of the firm when he was asked to produce a report about how the UK dealt with counterterrorism issues.
LinkedIn’s head of trust and safety, Paul Rockwell said, “We actively seek out signs of state-sponsored activity and quickly take action to protect members, as was the case in this instance.”
He added, “Our threat intelligence team removes fake accounts using the information we uncover and intelligence from a variety of sources including government agencies.”
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