The head of MI5 has warned the public to be vigilant about threats from “hostile states” as from terrorism.
Head of MI5 Ken McCallum warns that hostile states threaten UK jobs, public services and even lives.
According to British intelligence, these include disruptive cyber-attacks, misinformation, espionage and interference in politics and are often linked to Russia and China.
In a speech on Wednesday, Mr McCallum will say these “less visible threats… have the potential to affect us all”.
The head of the Security Service wants to challenge the idea that activity by so-called “hostile states”, usually taken to mean primarily Russia and China, only affects governments or certain institutions.
Mr McCallum will say these threats are affecting UK jobs and public services and could even lead to a loss of life.
In the speech at MI5’s Thames House headquarters, Mr McCallum will warn the “consequences range from frustration and inconvenience, through loss of livelihood, potentially up to loss of life”.
MI5 recently launched a campaign called “Think before you Link” to raise awareness.
“We have seen over 10,000 disguised approaches from foreign spies to regular people in the UK, seeking to manipulate them,” Ken McCallum will say, referring to a five-year period.
“UK victims of state espionage range way wider than just government. We see the UK’s brilliant universities and researchers having their discoveries stolen or copied; we see businesses hollowed out by the loss of advantage they’ve worked painstakingly to build.
“Given half a chance, hostile actors will short-circuit years of patient British research or investment. This is happening at scale. And it affects us all. UK jobs, UK public services, UK futures,” the MI5 head will say.
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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