China is collecting personal data of Dutch citizens on a large scale. In this way, the country is trying to find out who is working at companies engaged in high-technology knowledge. At the same time, China is trying in this way to see which individuals might pose a threat to the country.
So says Erik Akerboom, director of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), in an interview with BNR (1).
In his eyes, China the greatest cyber threat to our country. Beijing is trying to make great strides militarily, economically and technologically, at the expense of the West. "We see that China is trying to gain hegemony in all areas. For example, in the field of technology," Akerboom said.
He calls the digital world a "gray zone. By this Akerboom means an area where there is actually no war, but people are constantly fighting each other. China, he says, does this on a large scale.
Akerboom: "They have a whole-of-society approach in which everyone also serves China's progress. China is not necessarily focused on shortchanging others, but rather on becoming independent and very big and strong themselves."
The AIVD has been warning for years about espionage by countries with offensive cyber programs, such as Russia and China. Because of our high-quality knowledge in the technological field, our country is an attractive espionage target for foreign powers.
The National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) said digital espionage from Russia posed "an immediate threat" to our country. Akerboom warned of "a new arms race" in which "all the crown jewels of the economy" are at risk, including telecom companies, financial institutions and utility providers.
China has "a huge data hunger," according to Akerboom. The regime collects private data and other interesting information about Dutch citizens on a daily basis. For example, Xi Jinping's government is trying to find out which people work at knowledgeable technology companies, and therefore may be of interest to them.
Akerboom stressed that consideration is also being given to whether there are citizens who pose a threat to China. As an example, he mentions the Uighurs, a minority group in China. They are shadowed daily to see if they are not undermining Chinese authority from abroad.
"What we also see reflected is that they rank influential people in order of influence. So who can we approach to influence? On the economic agenda, for example, on cooperation. Or for example to be able to get into universities or companies," Akerboom said.
Spying by Chinese in our country is no fable. In September 2020, it was revealed that Zhenhua Data from China's Shenzen Province maintains a vast database on prominent foreign individuals. It contains information on more than 2.4 million people, including journalists, lawyers, accountants and pop stars. In addition to names, the database includes such things as dates of birth, home and work addresses, career careers, bank account numbers, photographs, social media posts and complete psychological reports.
Analysis showed that more than 700 Dutch nationals appear in the database. Various key figures and former employees from politics, business, the Royal Family and show business were named. The Chinese database also contained information on their partners, children and other relatives.
Recently, ASML announced that a former employee from China had had misappropriated company-sensitive information. This may have resulted in sensitive information being channelled to Beijing. The chip manufacturer reported the incident to the relevant authorities.
https://www.bnr.nl/nieuws/binnenland/10506019/aivd-china-verzamelt-op-grote-schaal-nederlandse-persoonsgegevens
