In a rare joint warning, Canada and other Five Eyes intelligence sharing countries say China is using professional networking sites like LinkedIn, Indeed and Upwork to target current and former government or military personnel who could have access to “classified or privileged information.”
The alert was drafted by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Australia Security Intelligence Organization, the New Zealand Intelligence Community, the United Kingdom’s MI5 and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to the security agencies, the foreign actors use an aggressive online recruitment strategy where intelligence officers or affiliates pose as “employees of private consultancies, think tanks or human resources firms”.
Those targeted who do respond to the fake messages are pressured to provide “non-public” information about “unspecified clients who are associated with the Chinese government,” according to the Five Eyes report.
The security agencies say the goal of the operation is for the Chinese military intelligence services to “acquire privileged military, political and economic intelligence that can provide China with a strategic and tactical advantage over the Five Eyes.”
CSIS notes that even a small piece of information given to a foreign actor can be combined with more “sensitive reporting” to undermine Canada’s interests.
“By providing this security alert, we are helping Canadians to remain vigilant in order to protect our national institutions and safeguard our secrets,” CSIS director Dan Rogers wrote in a statement.
In addition to the warning, CSIS also published a fact sheet, warning government employees who are at risk, underlining no matter where they work in the government or military.
CSIS also warns Chinese intelligence officers will try to recruit and cultivate relationships with security clearance holders who may specialize in defence, foreign affairs and security and intelligence.
Military personnel could also be targeted, as well as people with indirect or “peripheral access to government information.” The warning states academics, journalists, freelance writers, and think tank employees could be the focus of China, according to CSIS.