The head of MI5, Ken McCallum, has revealed that over 20,000 individuals in the UK have been discreetly approached online by Chinese intelligence operatives. This alarming revelation has
prompted MI5 to issue a stern warning to tens of thousands of British businesses about the looming threat of intellectual property theft.
Ken McCallum's disclosure came during a historic joint appearance of security chiefs from the Five Eyes alliance, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, held in California. The purpose of this unprecedented gathering was to sound the alarm about China's extensive efforts to obtain commercial secrets.
The venue for this event was Stanford University in California, strategically chosen due to its location in the heart of Silicon Valley. During both public statements and a closed session with entrepreneurs and investors, security leaders underscored the relentless theft of cutting-edge research.
"We have witnessed a sustained and, quite frankly, monumental campaign," said Mr. McCallum during his interview with the BBC at the event.
Traditionally, MI5's focus had been on safeguarding government secrets from foreign spies. However, the emerging concern now centers around the theft of innovation from small businesses, startups, and researchers who may not have previously considered themselves espionage targets.
Mr. McCallum emphasized, "If you are currently engaged at the forefront of technology, the world of geopolitics has its eyes on you, even if you are not interested in geopolitics."
To address the growing risk, MI5 is taking the unprecedented step of publicly warning tens of thousands of UK companies. This signifies a shift in approach for the security service.
Mr. McCallum revealed that MI5 has identified over 20,000 suspected Chinese agents who have approached individuals in the UK via professional networking platforms like LinkedIn with the aim of cultivating them for sensitive information—a number double the previous estimates.
Over the past year, MI5 has documented over 20 instances of Chinese companies either considering or actively attempting to gain access to sensitive technology developed by UK enterprises and universities through hidden investments or other convoluted means.
Some of these attempts have involved complex corporate structures to conceal China's role. Additionally, at least two Chinese companies have sought to access sensitive UK technology while evading legal scrutiny.
Moreover, one Chinese firm is suspected of acquiring stolen research data from a prestigious UK university. There have also been efforts to circumvent and undermine management and regulatory controls at two other prominent institutions to access and influence cutting-edge research.
MI5, along with its international allies, has thwarted the acquisition of a sensitive UK technology company linked to military supply chains and major Western commercial entities. China has consistently denied any allegations of espionage and wrongdoing.
The repercussions of stolen research in advanced fields like Artificial Intelligence extend beyond a company's financial wellbeing, as Mr. McCallum cautioned. Such technologies are at a pivotal juncture that could significantly impact the world. Authoritarian states are keenly focused on the opportunities these technologies offer.
The concerns about China were echoed by other members of the Five Eyes alliance. FBI Director Chris Wray emphasized that China's economic espionage and theft of intellectual property have become central to its national strategy. He stressed the increased danger and insidious nature of this threat in recent years, revealing that the FBI has more than 2,000 ongoing investigations linked to China.
Australia's security service head, Mike Burgess, also noted that all nations engage in espionage, but China's actions go well beyond traditional methods and scale, warranting attention. He described the scale of China's espionage efforts as unprecedented in human history and in need of condemnation.
The security chiefs argued that completely decoupling Western economies from China would be impractical and harmful. Instead, their priority is to identify and safeguard sensitive areas. The joint appearance coincided with the launch of new guidance aimed at reaching individuals who had previously not been in contact with security services.
The gathering took place against the backdrop of developments in the Middle East and concerns over increased radicalization and domestic threats. As the FBI Director emphasized, the threat from China is nothing short of "existential." Photo by MI5, Wikimedia commons.