UK: MI5 warns universities over interference by ‘hostile states’
UK: MI5 warns universities over interference by ‘hostile states’
MI5 warns universities over interference by ‘hostile states’
MI5 has warned universities about the growing threat from China and told them to report instances of foreign interference to the government and security services.
The intelligence agency hauled more than 70 vice-chancellors into a rare briefing last week to urge them to step up their defences against intimidation and censorship by “hostile states”.
Sir Ken McCallum, the director-general of MI5, warned them that China and other states were attempting to influence universities’ research and teaching.
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UK-China Transparency (UKCT), a think tank, published a report in August stating that Chinese students in the UK were being pressured to spy on their classmates.
After surveying China studies academics, the think tank received reports of Chinese government officials warning lecturers to avoid discussing certain topics in their classes.
Some academics also said they were intimidated by visiting scholars and staff at Confucius Institutes. These partnership organisations claim to promote Chinese culture on UK campuses, but have been criticised over their alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
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In one of the most high-profile examples of interference, Sheffield Hallam University ordered a senior professor to halt her work on allegations of forced labour in the Xinjiang region last year.
Laura Murphy, professor of human rights and contemporary slavery, initiated legal proceedings against the university after it emerged that the institution was concerned her research was impacting the number of Chinese students enrolling on courses.
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The government’s new “academic interference reporting route” will allow universities to send their concerns about foreign influence straight to UK intelligence agencies.
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Vice-chancellors are understood to be responsible for passing on the information, with complaints “triaged” based on their severity.
Dr Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group of universities, said: “The new single point of contact for advice on foreign interference will empower institutions to report and take action more swiftly and confidently, knowing there is support in place.
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