MI5 has told UK universities to cut ties with China over sensitive technologies or risk prosecution for inadvertently aiding Beijing’s intelligence operations.
In its first publicly issued espionage warning of its kind, the Security Service has identified more than 100 British-linked academics whose research received funding connected to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS). The work includes highly sensitive fields such as artificial intelligence.
The alert says Chinese intelligence has covertly supported research at British universities into areas including cyber-security and concealed communications, with the aim of strengthening its “technical capability for espionage”.
MI5 believes academics who share information with Chinese partners on subjects such as steganography could be exposing national security risks. Steganography involves concealing secret messages inside files or physical objects so they avoid detection.
Universities are now being urged to terminate the arrangements. Academics could otherwise face charges under laws covering assistance to a foreign intelligence service, an offence carrying a potential 14-year prison sentence.
The warning follows remarks by spy chief Sir Ken McCallum, who told representatives from 70 universities in February that hostile states were using increasingly sophisticated tactics to target academics and “shape research and teaching content”.
MI5 previously summoned UK vice-chancellors to a security briefing. However, researchers appear to have continued some collaborations, attracted by funding from China.
Several of Britain’s leading universities maintain research links with institutions in Beijing.
MI5 has warned universities to stop working with China on key technologies or face prosecution for helping Beijing’s spies. Pictured: the MI5 London headquarters
Oxford and Cambridge are among the UK universities listed as having partnerships with some of China’s leading defence universities.
MI5 says the China General Technology Research Institute (CGTRI), also known as the China Academy of General Technology (CAGT), has been used to channel research funding from Beijing’s intelligence service, the Chinese MSS.
More than 100 academics linked to UK institutions have worked on projects financed through CGTRI, according to the Security Service.
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Some researchers may have been unaware that CGTRI was indirectly financing their work. In other cases, universities may have entered into agreements with the organisation in “good faith”, without knowing about its alleged connection to the MSS.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis has called on universities to abandon the agreements and stop sharing sensitive information relating to advanced artificial intelligence technology.
Dan Jarvis said: “This alert exposes attempts by Chinese intelligence to covertly benefit from the expertise and research of our academics, undermining our national security, and that of our allies.
“I have written to all university Vice-Chancellors to ensure they support their staff to end all arrangements with this company, preventing further benefit to the Chinese intelligence services and ensuring compliance with the National Security Act.
“International partnerships are vital to ensure our universities and research institutes continue to thrive, but we will take robust action to defend against the threats we face. That means supporting our police and intelligence services to expose and disrupt harmful activity, using the full force of the law.”
The MI5 alert states: “MI5 has identified that the primary purpose of CGTRI is to fund academic research that directly improves MSS technical capability for espionage.
“CGTRI-funded projects on topics including Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, covert communications systems and steganography.
“This activity supports MSS espionage, which poses a threat to UK national security.”
MI5 is advising academic institutions to ‘immediately review any ongoing or planned collaboration with CGTRI,’ adding ‘Further, academics are advised to establish the ultimate funding source when conducting any research collaboration with Chinese institutions, to ensure CGTRI is not involved.’
Academic institutions, staff and researchers could face prosecution under the National Security Act 2023, for assisting a foreign intelligence service or obtaining a material benefit from a hostile state.
It concludes by warning: ‘Any institution or individual continuing to conduct research ultimately funded by CGTRI following publication of this espionage alert should take their own independent legal advice, in particular (but not limited to) in relation to the offences under sections 3 and 17 of the National Security Act.’