Espionage and foreign interference pose a significant threat to the UK’s democracy, economy and fundamental rights and freedoms. So says guidance from the UK official NPSA (National Protective Security Authority) aimed at parliamentarians, that you can view on the NPSA website.
Minister speaks
Home Office security minister Dan Jarvis said: “I urge anyone working in government, public service or politics to be alert and trust their instincts if something does not feel right, and follow NPSA’s guidance. Foreign intelligence officers frequently operate covertly and exploit professional networking sites and personal vulnerabilities to build influence. This new guidance builds on the work we are already doing to tackle these issues. Those engaging in political influence on behalf of foreign powers must register under the Foreign Influence Registration scheme, as Parliament and the public have a right to know who is seeking to influence political outcomes, and in whose interests.”
BEST principles
The guidance offers the BEST principles – to be alert; enhance your security when you are overseas; to secure your information (both physical paper and cyber); and trust your instincts.
Physical and cyber worlds
The NPSA points out that foreign efforts to influence (perhaps by manipulation over the long term) or coerce MPs, peers, their staff, and parliamentary candidates could come from the real or online worlds; hence the NPSA’s ‘Think before you Link’ campaign, warning that those who might be of interest to foreign intelligence services (not only to do with politics, but research and development, and commerce) may use online professional or social networking sites. A more aggressive tactic might be blackmail. The NPSA points out that ‘an apparently genuine interaction can transition into something more malign’. The guidance also asks parliamentarians to be ‘on the lookout for a call or message which purports to be from a colleague but which in fact is generated by threat actor, potentially in the form of a ‘deepfake’ or a hoax call’, even by pranksters.
Examples
Among examples outlined in the guidance is from the UK, of the cyber compromise in 2024 of the Electoral Commission, ‘and reconnaissance carried out to cyber target parliamentarians’, notably critics of China, and earlier compromise of an MP’s personal email, due to ‘a spear-phishing attack by suspected Russian actors’; and from abroad.
MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum said: “When foreign states steal vital UK information or manipulate our democratic processes they don’t just damage our security in the short-term, they erode the foundations of our sovereignty and ability to protect our citizens’ interests. Everyone reading this guidance cares deeply about the role they play in UK democracy. Take action today to protect it – and yourself.”
