China’s intelligence ministry warns of security risks from open-source information

Ministry of State Security says improperly handled publicly available data such as social media is a ‘key source’ of intelligence for foreign spies

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China’s spy ministry says overseas espionage agencies can aggregate fragmented and vague data, and through big data analysis, conduct precise, continuous and stable tracking of targets, extracting valuable intelligence. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Published: 2:02pm, 2 Dec 2024Updated: 2:21pm, 2 Dec 2024

China’s top intelligence agency has warned that open-source information poses threats to national security by making sensitive data vulnerable to exploitation by foreign spies.

Sensitive data that is not properly declassified or assessed for risks can be publicly spread online and “become an important source of open-source intelligence” for overseas spy agencies, the Ministry of State Security (MSS) said in an article posted on its official WeChat account on Sunday.

Open-source information is publicly available and legally accessible through platforms that provide social media posts, online forums, blog articles, news reports and satellite images, the ministry said, adding that it “often contains large amounts of valuable data and intelligence that can become a key source of cyber espionage”.

“Overseas espionage agencies can aggregate fragmented and vague data, and through big data analysis, can conduct precise, continuous and stable tracking of targets, extracting valuable intelligence,” the ministry warned.

“This presents greater challenges to information security efforts, requiring stricter and more effective measures to prevent information leaks.”

The MSS highlighted three areas of concern and urged caution during procurement bidding, where sensitive information could be disclosed during the process. It cited construction project cases that involved confidential information and digitisation of confidential archives, which required security measures during procurement to protect national secrets.

Inadequate management and lack of awareness could lead to leaked procurement details, purposes or sensitive technical data, the ministry said.