LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s domestic intelligence service, MI5, warned lawmakers and parliamentary staff on Tuesday about Chinese agents who were targeting democratic institutions, including through networking sites. Security minister Dan Jarvis set out measures to deter “covert and calculated” attempts by foreign powers to interfere with Britain’s sovereign affairs and undermine its democratic institutions. Below are […]
Science
Factbox-UK measures to counter China’s threat to lawmakers, business, universities
Audio By Carbonatix
LONDON (Reuters) -Britain’s domestic intelligence service, MI5, warned lawmakers and parliamentary staff on Tuesday about Chinese agents who were targeting democratic institutions, including through networking sites.
Security minister Dan Jarvis set out measures to deter “covert and calculated” attempts by foreign powers to interfere with Britain’s sovereign affairs and undermine its democratic institutions.
Below are the measures announced:
COUNTER POLITICAL INTERFERENCE
* New legislation to strengthen national security powers andtighten rules on political donations via an Elections Bill * Security briefings for political parties and tailoredguidance for election candidates to help them recognise andreport suspicious approaches * Campaigns to make professional networking platforms a morehostile environment for foreign agents * Measures to disrupt proxy organisations and covercompanies used by foreign states for interference * Investment of 170 million pounds ($223 million) to renewthe encrypted technology that civil servants use to safeguardsensitive work
CYBERSECURITY RESILIENCE
* Continued action against China-based actors involved inmalicious cyber activity targeting the UK and its allies * Removal of surveillance equipment made by firms subject toChina’s National Intelligence Law from all sensitive UKgovernment sites worldwide
PROTECTION FOR BUSINESSES
* Investment of 130 million pounds to help build counterterrorism policing’s ability to enforce National Security Actand fund work of authorities who help UK’s critical businessesprotect their intellectual property * Working to strengthen economic security advisory serviceto help businesses manage espionage and intellectual propertytheft, following example already set up in the advancedmanufacturing sector
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
* Ministers will hold an event with university chiefs todiscuss risk posed by foreign interference
($1 = 0.7610 pounds)
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Sarah Young, Editing by Paul Sandle)