MI5 and its Five Eyes partners have warned that Chinese military intelligence is using professional networking and freelance platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed and Upwork to recruit people with access to sensitive information or intelligence gathering skills. Posing as legitimate consultancies or research firms, hostile actors offer paid analyst or research roles, gradually drawing targets into providing information of intelligence value.
Association of British Investigators (ABI) President Mike LaCorte argues this is directly relevant to investigators because the sector is both a target and a potential cover for such activity. Investigators often have the resources, skills, security backgrounds, and possible links much sought after by the bad actors. The language used by hostile recruiters – consultancy, due diligence, research, analysis, surveillance, profiling – mirrors legitimate investigative work, making the threat harder to spot.
The ABI regularly alerts its members to treat unsolicited research offers with caution, verify clients and commissioning entities, watch for gradual escalation toward sensitive information, limit what they advertise on professional profiles, and brief staff, subcontractors and freelancers.
The ABI also highlights the responsibilities and risks under the National Security Act 2023 and the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, noting that professionals drawn into acting for a hostile foreign power may face serious liability.
The wider message is that professional regulation, say pursuant to the ABI UK GDPR Code of Conduct for Investigative and Litigation Support Services (approved by the ICO under Article 40), brings unparalleled accountability, data protection awareness and compliance in the key areas that identify the risks and help mitigate the threat from bad actors.
Awareness, stronger client-vetting processes and early reporting of suspicious approaches are presented as essential safeguards.
Source: Sky News – Warning over Chinese spies targeting UK government and military staff
Mike LaCorte is President of the Association of British Investigators and CEO of Conflict International.
