The Central Intelligence Agency of the United States has initiated a fresh campaign aimed at enlisting informants in China, Iran, and North Korea.
On Wednesday, the organization utilized its social media platforms to disseminate messages in Mandarin, Farsi, and Korean, providing users with guidance on secure communication methods.
This recent initiative comes on the heels of a campaign aimed at recruiting Russians following the invasion of Ukraine, a move that the CIA has deemed successful.
“We aim to ensure that individuals in other authoritarian regimes are aware that we are open for business,” stated a CIA spokesman.
Recruitment messages have been disseminated across various platforms, including X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, and LinkedIn, as well as the dark web. These messages solicited personal information, specifically individuals’ names, locations, and contact details.
Users were provided with comprehensive guidance on how to contact the CIA through its official website. The guidance recommended the use of secure, encrypted Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or the anonymous web browser known as the Tor network, which is commonly associated with accessing the dark web.
“I don’t recall any recruitment initiative quite like this, utilizing YouTube or social media in such a manner, at least in the context of Korea,” stated Mason Richey, an associate professor of international politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul.
“It appears that the strategy is influenced by the success observed in Russia; however, there are concerns regarding its effectiveness, particularly given that a majority of North Koreans lack internet access,” he stated in an interview with the BBC.
Professor Richey indicated that the United States could focus on North Korean traders who cross the border with China informally and may be able to utilize VPN networks.
US intelligence agencies have identified North Korea, Iran, and China as particularly challenging environments for intelligence gathering. This assessment stems from the stringent surveillance measures these nations implement to suppress dissent among their populations.
The CIA’s statement elaborated, “This effort signifies one approach the agency is taking to navigate a transformed global landscape characterized by heightened state repression and pervasive surveillance.”
However, Professor Richey raised concerns regarding the potential value of any intelligence that the campaign could acquire.
“One must assume that the CIA operates with a level of expertise, yet it raises questions about the proximity of these dissatisfied individuals to the corridors of power and the decision-making arenas,” he remarked.
“It certainly complicates the workings of these counter-intelligence operations,” he remarked.
American intelligence leaders, buoyed by recent developments in Russia, expressed optimism about their ability to connect with a sufficient number of disgruntled citizens ready to share potentially valuable information.
“Many individuals possess access to information and feel disillusioned with the Xi regime in China,” stated CIA Deputy Director David Cohen in an interview with Bloomberg.
“There are individuals within the system who, driven by various motivations, fundamentally oppose the direction Xi is steering the country. They recognize that collaborating with us could be a means to aid their own nation,” he stated.
Liu Pengyu, the spokesperson for the Chinese embassy, asserted that the United States is conducting “an organized and systematic” disinformation campaign targeting China.
Mr. Liu asserted in a statement that efforts to divide the Chinese populace and the Chinese Communist Party or diminish their strong connection are destined to be unsuccessful.
Dr. Richey noted that the United States is clearly signaling its perspective on national security challenges as it implements a campaign of this magnitude across various countries.
“The United States has come to the realization that it is engaged in more than just a series of bilateral confrontations with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea; it is, in fact, facing a confrontation with an emerging bloc,” stated Professor Richey.
“This clearly evokes a sense reminiscent of the Cold War.”