China accused of using fake LinkedIn recruiters to spy on NATO and EU staff

The operation, allegedly orchestrated by Beijing’s state security ministry, targeted dozens of employees at the military alliance or EU organisations through fictitious accounts, the source said, confirming reports in French and Belgian media. Posing as recruiters on the online professional networking platform, Chinese spies would initially request paid reports before later soliciting non-public or even classified information. One particularly active fake profile used the name “Kevin Zhang”, claiming to be the head of a fictitious Hong Kong-based firm called “Oriental Consulting”, the security source told AFP. In return, recruits from countries including France, Belgium and the United Kingdom were paid…