On Wednesday, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States launched a new operation to recruit informants in China, Iran, and North Korea. The CIA aims to make it easier and safer for individuals in these countries to share intelligence with the agency.
A CIA spokesperson stated in a release that the US’ premier spy agency has posted video instructions in simplified Chinese, Persian, and Korean on its accounts on platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, LinkedIn, and the dark web. These videos provide detailed guidance for potential informants on how to contact US intelligence officers without putting themselves in danger.
The statement mentioned that people around the world are trying to reach out to them, and the agency is providing guidance on how to securely establish contact. The CIA successfully implemented similar measures in Russia two years ago, following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The simplified Chinese video released by the CIA on YouTube provides silent text instructions, with the first message in the video stating, “Your safety and well-being are our top priority.”
The CIA advises potential informants to protect themselves and offers specific security measures, including using trusted non-local VPN services or the Tor network to enhance security, as well as using devices that are not easily traceable to the user.
The video urges any potential informant to use private web browsers and delete their browsing history to cover their tracks.
Potential informants are requested to provide personal information such as name, city of residence, occupation, contact details excluding personal identity information, and any information of interest to the CIA. It is emphasized that there is no guarantee of a response and that there may be waiting times.
Most media platforms posting recruitment information for informants are blocked in China, Iran, and Russia, but individuals can still access them using VPN services.
According to reports from Reuters, Chinese embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu accused the United States of launching “organized and systematic” disinformation campaigns against China (the Chinese Communist Party).
The Russian embassy and the Iranian UN delegation did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comments.
As the Chinese Communist Party expands cooperation with Russia and Iran and flexes its regional military power, the CIA’s demand for intelligence continues to grow.