The UK’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, has issued a warning that China is employing headhunters to collect intelligence from members of Parliament and parliamentary staff members. The revelation has prompted the British government to take additional measures to safeguard its national security interests. Dan Jarvis, the British security minister, has emphasized that this is a ‘covert and calculated attempt’ by China to gain access to sensitive information within the UK’s legislative framework.
According to the intelligence report, Chinese operatives are leveraging LinkedIn to identify individuals with access to classified data and internal communications. The use of professional networking platforms to conduct espionage highlights the evolving nature of cyber threats and the vulnerabilities of digital communication channels. Security officials are now urging parliamentary staff to exercise caution when sharing information online and to strengthen their cybersecurity protocols.