MI5 Chief Warns of Covert Approaches by Chinese Spies and Theft of Innovation

Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, has revealed that more than 20,000 people in the UK have been approached covertly online by Chinese spies. This disclosure comes alongside a new warning to tens of thousands of British businesses about the risk of having their innovation stolen. The Five Eyes alliance, consisting of the security agencies from the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, issued this warning for the first time during an unprecedented public appearance at Stanford University in California.

Silicon Valley was chosen as the venue for this public meeting because it symbolizes the heart of technological innovation. During the event, the security chiefs emphasized that China is actively engaged in obtaining commercial secrets. In an interview with the BBC, Mr. McCallum stated, “We have seen a sustained campaign on a pretty epic scale.”

Traditionally, MI5 focused on protecting government secrets from foreign spies. However, the current concern is that innovation is being targeted, particularly from small companies, start-ups, and researchers who may not have previously focused on security. Mr. McCallum emphasized that even those not directly interested in geopolitics are at risk if they are working at the cutting edge of technology.

In an effort to raise awareness and protect tens of thousands of UK companies at risk, MI5 is taking the unusual step of going public with these warnings. Mr. McCallum revealed that suspected Chinese agents have approached over 20,000 people in the UK through professional networking sites such as LinkedIn to cultivate them for sensitive information, which is double the previously reported figure.

In the past year alone, MI5 has discovered more than 20 instances of Chinese companies attempting to gain access to sensitive technology developed by UK companies and universities through hidden investments or other means. Some Chinese companies have sought to avoid legal scrutiny in their pursuit of UK technology, while others have acquired stolen research data from reputable UK institutions. Moreover, attempts have been made to bypass management and regulatory controls at top institutions to gain access and influence cutting-edge research.

China has consistently denied accusations of espionage and wrong-doing. However, the consequences of research theft in fields like Artificial Intelligence extend beyond a company’s profitability. Mr. McCallum stressed that these technologies have the potential to change the world in significant ways and that authoritarian states are actively seeking opportunities to exploit them.

The concerns raised about China were echoed by the other members of the Five Eyes alliance. FBI Director Chris Wray highlighted over 2,000 current FBI investigations linked to China, with the organization opening a new investigation every 12 hours at one point. The head of Australia’s security service, Mike Burgess, described the scale of the threat as unprecedented and called for greater awareness of the issue.

The security chiefs emphasized that decoupling western economies from China would be unrealistic and damaging. Instead, the priority is to identify and protect sensitive areas. The public appearance of the Five Eyes alliance coincided with the launch of new guidance aimed at reaching individuals who may not have previously had contact with security services.

While the meeting took place amidst concerns about the Middle East and increased radicalization, the FBI Director reiterated the importance of addressing the Chinese threat, describing it as “existential.” MI5 recognizes the potential for increased radicalization and domestic threats but insists that they can focus on multiple issues simultaneously.

Overall, the warning issued by the security chiefs highlights the ongoing threat of Chinese espionage and the need to protect intellectual property and sensitive research in the UK and other western countries.