- Posted June 04, 2026
- Media Releases
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) has joined Five Eyes partners to highlight increased targeting of professional networking sites and online job platforms for intelligence purposes by China’s military intelligence services.
NZSIS first highlighted this publicly in New Zealand in 2024 [PDF, 6 MB] and has now joined with partners with a united message to raise awareness.
It involves individuals, including New Zealanders, being targeted through job and professional networking sites because of their access to privileged or classified information.
National security clearance holders, military personnel and those with access to sensitive government information are particularly at risk.
A malicious approach often begins with an innocuous sounding request for something on a benign topic. This progresses to requests on more sensitive areas such as military issues, international relations or insights on government decision making.
NZSIS Director General Andrew Hampton says this is espionage, and is an increasing concern for Five Eyes partners:
“New Zealand is not immune from this malicious activity – we know it happens here.
“There are basic steps you can take to protect yourself, most of which is common sense. Be very careful about the information you put online about yourself. We’re not saying don’t use social media or professional networking sites – just don’t tell the world you hold a national security clearance or work with sensitive government or military information.
“Be wary of unsolicited offers or approaches online that appear too good to be true, even if they seem legitimate.
“The NZSIS Protective Security Requirements (PSR) website(external link) has a range of information and guidance to support national security clearance holders and anyone with access to sensitive information.
“While NZSIS will do everything we can to detect and disrupt this activity, it is very important that anyone with access to sensitive and classified information understands that they can be targeted.
“Don’t become another unwitting victim - this is not something which just happens to other people,” says Mr Hampton.
END
Read the joint bulletin
Five Eyes partners joining this bulletin:
- New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
- MI5 (UK)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
CASE STUDY from 2024 NZSIS Security Threat Environment report [PDF, 6 MB](external link):
The intelligence arm of the People’s Republic of China is well-known for using professional social networking sites to identify unwitting candidates, including New Zealanders. Bogus consultancy jobs are offered or similar roles that can be co-opted for reporting privileged information. Often this begins as an innocuous request for an article or a report on a benign topic and slowly progresses into more sensitive questions. By the time the unwitting candidate becomes aware that they are engaging with an illegitimate actor they have often already shared information they otherwise would not have.