UK Presses LinkedIn to Curb Chinese Espionage After MI5 Uncovers Covert Spy Profiles
The UK government is in direct talks with LinkedIn to strengthen platform safeguards against Chinese intelligence activity targeting British institutions , following a rare public espionage alert issued by domestic security agency MI5. The warning came after investigators uncovered two LinkedIn accounts--operated under the aliases Amanda Qiu and Shirly Shen-- allegedly linked to the Chinese intelligence services. Image Source: Have I Got News For You The accounts, disguised as corporate recruiters, had been engaging in broad outreach across UK political and academic circles, including think tanks and policy researchers. MI5 described the effort as a “covert and calculated” campaign aimed at obtaining insider access to British policymaking and security structures. Both profiles have since been removed, and LinkedIn confirmed it had taken enforcement action. A spokesperson said: “Creating a fake account or misrepresenting your identity is a clear violation of our terms of s...