The UK government is holding discussions with LinkedIn to address Chinese espionage activities on the platform, following a rare alert from MI5. The National Protective Security Authority, part of the UK's security services, is engaging with social media platforms to reduce their appeal to foreign agents, a government official confirmed.
MPs and peers were warned on Tuesday about a “covert and calculated” espionage attempt via two LinkedIn profiles linked to Chinese intelligence. The accounts, posing as recruiters under the names Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen, sought to obtain “insider insights” into British politics. Both profiles have since been removed. LinkedIn stated that fake accounts violate its terms of service and reiterated its commitment to combating state-sponsored abuse.
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has invited MPs to a cybersecurity briefing with GCHQ director Anne Keast-Butler and NCSC chief executive Richard Horne next week. MI5's alert noted that operatives often move conversations to encrypted platforms and target thinktank employees and geopolitical consultants.
Bryn Harris, chief legal counsel at the Free Speech Union, reported receiving three suspicious emails this year from individuals feigning interest in his work on academic freedom. The emails, from accounts named Lala Chen, Ailin Chen, and Emily Emily, suggested moving discussions to WhatsApp. A threat assessment indicated the senders were based in the Asia-Pacific region despite claiming to be in the US.
MI5 issued the warning due to the scale of the recruitment efforts, aiming to help people identify risks and reflect on their online activity. The agency cautioned that cooperating with such operatives could lead to prosecution under the National Security Act. A source familiar with the matter described the issue as “endemic on LinkedIn,” with tens of thousands of suspicious incidents reported.
