The Great Data Heist: How China Outsmarted the CIA
Around 2013, U.S. intelligence noticed something alarming: undercover CIA agents working in Africa and Europe were being quickly identified by Chinese intelligence. Sometimes, this happened as soon as the agents cleared passport control. In some cases, the surveillance was so obvious that it seemed like the Chinese wanted the U.S. to know they were onto them, while other times it was so subtle that it required advanced countersurveillance techniques to detect.
The CIA had been taking advantage of China’s expanding presence overseas to meet or recruit sources, particularly in places like Djibouti where they couldn’t operate as freely in Beijing. They focused heavily on recruiting Russians and Chinese in Africa, aware that China was keeping a close watch.
The revelation that China could track U.S. operatives so efficiently worried CIA leaders. They had no clear idea how China was doing it. In the past, this might have led to a hunt for a mole or a breach in communication, but the CIA believed the real answer was more high-tech.
U.S. officials suspected that China’s success came from a cyberespionage campaign. Chinese intelligence had stolen massive amounts of sensitive personal data, including travel and health records, and U.S. government personnel files. They believed China used this data to identify CIA agents.
This conflict over data — who controls it, who can secure it, who can steal it, and how it can be used — defines the global rivalry between the U.S. and China. Data has reshaped Chinese politics and is now influencing U.S. foreign policy and intelligence efforts.
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China’s vast digital surveillance network, extensive cyberespionage operations, and ability to quickly analyze large datasets give it a significant edge. The U.S. is also trying to penetrate Chinese data systems and use big-data capabilities to understand what China knows about its operatives.
This incident marked a turning point for the CIA, exposing deep vulnerabilities in their operations and showcasing China’s advanced cyberespionage capabilities. The ability of Chinese intelligence to swiftly identify undercover agents eroded trust and highlighted the urgent need for the CIA to adapt to new technological threats. As a result, the agency has struggled to fully recover, grappling with the challenges of countering a sophisticated adversary. The revelation underscored the critical role of cybersecurity in modern espionage and the daunting task of overcoming such a strategic disadvantage, forever altering the landscape of global intelligence.
This is a high-stakes battle in the modern spy game, where data is the new weapon, and whoever controls it has a significant advantage. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into this thrilling conflict and the high-tech espionage that defines it.
Robert Morton is a member of the Association Of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and write the ‘Corey Pearson- CIA SpymasterCorey Pearson- CIA Spymaster’ series. Check out his latest spy thriller, MISSION OF VENGEANCE!MISSION OF VENGEANCE!