PoliticsMI5 issues spy alert to UK universities over Chinese front company

MI5 says China’s intelligence service used the China General Technology Research Institute as a front to fund research at UK universities and obtain sensitive work on AI, cybersecurity, covert communications and steganography. The security service advises academics to end collaboration and warns that continued work could carry criminal consequences under the National Security Act 2023.

MI5Chinese espionageUK universitiesacademic research

TThe Guardian★★★★☆2026-09-30 13:00Original