GB, MI5 alert on ‘foreign state infiltration’ in universities

(ANSA) – LONDON, APRIL 26 – Alert from Her Majesty’s secret services on intrusions into United Kingdom universities by “foreign states” suspected of wanting to “undermine British national security” and of targeting in particular the fruit of academic research most advanced in the sector of protection from cyber attacks. It was first relaunched by Ken McCallum, director general of MI5 (internal counter-espionage), who held an ad hoc briefing on the issue, together with other intelligence managers, to the rectors of the 24 leading universities on the island adhering to Russel Group. McCallum did not publicly mention any specific hostile country, as reported by the BBC. But just today two young researchers appeared before Westminster Magistrates Court for a preliminary hearing, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, the first a former parliamentary analyst, indicted this week for alleged espionage in favor of China as part of an investigation – revealed two years ago – on the alleged passage of sensitive information to Beijing to the detriment of the Kingdom’s democratic and academic institutions. The rectors were updated among others – as part of a periodic exchange of information on what the Russel Group defines as the “responsibilities of universities in protecting national security” – also by Felicity Oswald, interim head of National Cyber ​​Security Centre. Among the most prestigious universities represented, those of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Warwick, Glasgow, Cardiff, Queen’s University Belfast or – as regards London – University College London, Imperial College, King’s College or London School of Economics. The initiative is promoted by the British government, which calls for cooperation with university structures, but also for greater controls on the allocation of public funds to various projects and institutes “Our objective – said Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, number two to the Prime Minister Tory, Rishi Sunak – is to “tackle evolving threats while protecting the integrity and security of our great academic institutions” (ANSA).