Global spy games heat back up
In 2013, whistleblower Edward Snowden exposed a massive dragnet of U.S. surveillance programs built to intercept the data and communications of targets worldwide. By comparison, human intelligence work suddenly seemed […]
Global espionage is resurging as governments rediscover the importance of covert operations to counter foreign threats. In 2013, Edward Snowden revealed a massive U.S. surveillance program, making traditional human intelligence appear outdated. Today, Israel and America successfully targeted Iran's leadership, while Russian and Ukrainian spies have staged numerous assassination attempts on each other's soil.
North Korea uses fake credentials and AI-generated profiles to infiltrate Fortune 500 companies, stealing trade secrets and diverting tech salaries to its nuclear weapons program. Sweden and Japan are establishing new intelligence agencies to cope with information and technological threats from Russia and China. Sweden's foreign minister emphasized the importance of information advantage in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Germany's intelligence community is being allowed to use AI-powered offensive cyber tools to thwart terror plots and sabotage. A recent arrest in Belgium highlights the risks of espionage, with a Canadian with a computer science degree accused of spying for China. This echoes a similar case in 2021 involving Chinese scientists caught stealing materials in Winnipeg.
Canadian authorities are considering developing their own foreign intelligence service, though challenges remain, including the cost, potential scandal, and the risk of influencing foreign governments against U.S. interests.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
