MI5 has issued a warning to UK lawmakers about Chinese intelligence operatives using LinkedIn and recruitment fronts to gather information and cultivate long-term relationships. The alert highlights the use of professional networking sites to target parliamentary staff and other professionals, including economists, think tank consultants, and government officials. Speaking to lawmakers, House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle emphasized the scale and targeted nature of the activity, stating it was “widespread” and “targeted.” He mentioned that MI5 had identified LinkedIn profiles of two women, Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, as part of the campaign, with similar recruiters’ profiles acting as fronts for espionage.
Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis added that the government is implementing measures to mitigate the risk, including a £170 million investment to upgrade encrypted technology used by civil servants. This investment aims to enhance the security of sensitive government work. However, opposition parties have expressed concerns, stating that authorities are not doing enough and are overly cautious about jeopardizing trade ties with China. The government’s actions have sparked a debate about balancing national security and diplomatic relationships.