Ministry of State Security warns public of 'spy eyes' in space

Calling the space domain a major target for foreign intelligence agencies to carry out espionage, China's Ministry of State Security revealed Sunday that some countries' intelligence agencies use data analyzed by professionals and even coordinates provided by "enthusiastic" netizens to conduct real-time monitoring of China through high-precision remote sensing satellites. 

In recent years, foreign intelligence agencies have been conducting various espionage activities against China from all dimensions across "sea, land, air, and space" through satellite remote sensing, close reconnaissance by military aircraft, and monitoring of ocean information, according to the latest article published by the Chinese ministry on its WeChat account on Monday.

China has a vast territory, and relying solely on the observation capabilities of spy satellites to accurately collect sensitive information from space is as difficult as "finding a needle in a haystack." However, the national security authorities have found that the inadvertent actions of some netizens have provided a "roadmap" for spy satellites, creating potential leaks of classified information that all members of society should be highly vigilant against - effectively "pinning" the location for foreign spy satellites.

With the proliferation of high-precision satellite mapping applications, some companies have created a "user co-creation" mechanism to encourage enthusiasts to upload accurately marked geographic information to further improve their data. Some netizens, due to a lack of awareness around national security, have taken unauthorized photos and uploaded sensitive location information such as sensitive units and military areas on map applications, leading to the leakage of related geographic coordinate data, according to the Chinese ministry.

Some netizens, in order to gain material for discussion or show off their abilities, actively analyze changes in military scenes in satellite images and discuss the reasons for the changes, identify military facility equipment models and construction situations, and even answer questions about China's military strategy, equipment research and development, potentially leading to the disclosure of related sensitive and even classified information, said the ministry.

From recent cases of illegal installation of spy detection devices, foreign intelligence agencies recruit individuals within China through online connections to "assist" in installing detection devices around airports, ports, and military bases. Once the devices are installed, foreign spy satellites can receive real-time information data, posing a serious threat to national security, the ministry revealed.

The Ministry of State Security reminded the public that national security is for the people and relies on the people. While enjoying the fruits of technological development, in the face of the invisible "spy eyes," the general public must remain vigilant, strengthen prevention measure, continuously improve national security awareness, while striving to contribute to maintaining national security.

For example, when passing through various military facilities, military sites, and other sensitive areas, people should refrain from taking photos or uploading photos of military-related content.

When sharing details of their personal lives on social media platforms or engaging in conversations with others, people should refrain from participating in discussions on military-related topics, the ministry warned.

Also, when encountering suspicious individuals requesting the installation of monitoring devices or sharing data information, people should refrain from installing the devices and promptly report to the national security agency through relevant channels.