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LinkedIn accounts linked to Chinese spies targeted Australian premier, AFP commander: ABC investigation

More than 100 Australians approached over nearly a decade, including opposition leader Steven Miles

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
An ABC investigation has revealed that two LinkedIn accounts connected to suspected Chinese spies amassed thousands of connections worldwide and approached more than 100 Australians over nearly a decade, including former Queensland premier and now opposition leader Steven Miles and an Australian Federal Police commander.

The accounts, which presented themselves as employees of a think tank, offered paid consultancy to targets in exchange for 'valuable advice,' according to the investigation.

Between 2016 and 2025, the alleged spies targeted individuals linked to Australia, including senior federal government officials and staff at state trade and investment bodies. The accounts reached out to 58 of their connections, and some recipients shared personal contact details.

The ABC linked the operation to the same alleged Chinese spying network that groomed Australian businessman Alexander Csergo, who was recently jailed for reckless foreign interference. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) alleges that China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) used fake LinkedIn profiles to contact and cultivate potential foreign sources before requesting information.

In June, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance issued a rare joint warning about Chinese intelligence using online job platforms for recruitment that 'can provide China with a strategic and tactical advantage over the Five Eyes.'

The Chinese Embassy in Canberra rejected the AFP's claims as 'entirely groundless,' urging the media to report fairly and objectively.

ASIO declined to comment on or confirm any investigations, citing long-standing practice.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The targeting of senior Australian political and police figures underscores the vulnerability of professional networking platforms to state-sponsored espionage.
  • The operation spanned nearly a decade, raising questions about how such activity evaded detection for so long.
  • It highlights ongoing tensions between China and Five Eyes nations over covert intelligence-gathering efforts.

Background

The ABC investigation draws on LinkedIn records obtained by the AFP during the Csergo case. The Five Eyes alliance’s joint warning in June 2026 specifically flagged Chinese use of job platforms for intelligence recruitment. The AFP has publicly alleged that China’s Ministry of State Security was behind the fake profiles.

Key Perspectives

Australian Federal Police: Alleges the MSS ran a coordinated operation, using fake profiles to approach and cultivate potential sources from Australian government and law enforcement. Chinese Embassy: Rejects the allegations as unfounded and warns against what it sees as biased reporting and vilification. Five Eyes alliance: Warned in June that such recruitment can provide China with strategic advantages, signalling a broader concern among allied intelligence agencies.

What to Watch

  • Whether further individuals are charged or named as part of the AFP investigation.
  • Any changes to LinkedIn’s security policies or cooperation with law enforcement.
  • The diplomatic response from Canberra and potential escalation of China-related security measures.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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