Canadian expert David Vigneault warns of China’s ‘industrial-strength’ attempts to steal new technologies
Hostile spy agencies are now as focused on infiltrating western universities and companies as they are on doing so to governments, according to the former head of Canada’s intelligence service.
David Vigneault warned that a recent “industrial-scale” attempt by China to steal new technologies showed the need for increased vigilance from academics.
“The frontline has moved, from being focused on government information to private sector innovation, research innovation and universities,” he told the Guardian in his first interview since leaving the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), which is part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence sharing alliance with the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand.
It’s been this way for many years. The universities are simply too willing to accept inflated international tuition payments. There are nationals of adversaries all throughout our advanced programs. I’ll grant that most of them are probably not spies. But even if a fraction of them are, we’re badly exposed. The numbers are outrageous. It’s a gaping wound in our security and future stability to have our advanced programs populated by the children and young adults of adversary nations. During the Cold War, you would mot have seen as many students from behind the iron curtain at MIT and Cal Tech. It would have been an obvious no-no. But the greed of today’s universities is boundless and reckless.
Education should not know borders.
I can tell you didn’t read the article and are only reacting to the headline, because this isn’t about students.
