UK intelligence agency MI5 has issued a fresh warning that Chinese intelligence services are using LinkedIn to approach, cultivate, and potentially recruit political figures. The alert, shared with UK lawmakers, frames the activity as large-scale outreach designed to gather information and build long-term influence.
What MI5 is warning about
According to the warning, outreach is not limited to Parliament. Economists, think tank experts, and government officials are also being targeted as part of broader influence operations. UK officials have described this as covert interference in sovereign affairs, and a continuing national security concern.
Source: EuroNews
Why this matters for professionals
For anyone working in policy-adjacent industries – government, research, defense, public affairs, or regulated sectors – LinkedIn can be both a visibility tool and a risk surface. Sophisticated approaches often look like legitimate networking: credible profiles, slow relationship-building, and long-term conversations.
Practical takeaway
Treat unexpected outreach – especially persistent, overly interested, or oddly specific messages – as a security signal. Basic hygiene (verification, cautious sharing of details, and internal escalation paths) matters more than ever when LinkedIn is used as a contact channel.
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