PARIS, France — China allegedly used fake profiles on LinkedIn to gather sensitive information from staff linked to NATO and European Union institutions, a European security source said.
The operation, believed to be orchestrated by China’s state security ministry, targeted dozens of employees through fictitious recruiter accounts. These profiles initially offered paid research opportunities before attempting to extract non-public or even classified information.
One such account, operating under the name “Kevin Zhang,” posed as the head of a Hong Kong-based firm called “Oriental Consulting,” according to the source. Individuals from countries including France, Belgium, and the United Kingdom were reportedly paid hundreds to thousands of dollars in exchange for information.
Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden said similar approaches have targeted civil servants, academics, and influential figures worldwide, warning that such tactics may have allowed significant intelligence to reach China. She described social media as a “breeding ground” for espionage and propaganda, where individuals can be enticed to cooperate in exchange for payment.
The reported intelligence-gathering efforts focused on sensitive topics such as EU sanctions on China and NATO’s strategy in Asia, particularly regarding Taiwan.
Concerns over such tactics are not new. Intelligence agencies, including the United Kingdom’s domestic security service, have previously warned that Chinese operatives were using platforms like LinkedIn to recruit sources under the guise of headhunters—allegations that Beijing has denied.