UK intelligence agency MI5 has issued an ‘espionage alert’ warning that Chinese operatives are using LinkedIn and recruitment fronts to target UK lawmakers. The alert, shared with House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, highlights the use of professional networking sites and consultants to gather information and build long-term relationships. MI5 cited LinkedIn profiles of two women, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, as examples of the growing threat, noting that these profiles are used by Chinese nationals to conduct outreach at scale. Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis emphasized that the government is taking steps to address the risk, including investing 17,000,000 pounds to enhance the security of civil servants’ communications. Meanwhile, opposition parties are calling for more robust measures, expressing concern over the potential impact on trade relations with China.
The alert underscores the evolving methods of state-sponsored espionage, with MI5 emphasizing that the activity is ‘targeted and widespread.’ The agency’s warnings come as part of broader concerns about cybersecurity and information warfare. While the government is investing in technological upgrades, some critics argue that additional measures are needed to protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of democratic institutions. The situation has also sparked debates about the balance between national security and diplomatic relations with major global powers.