UK Government Launches National Security Protection Agency to Combat Cyber Threats from China
The UK International Intelligence Service is set to oversee a new agency aimed at combatting cyber threats from China. The National Security Protection Agency (NPSA) was announced by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on March 13, as part of the government’s updated security strategy, called the “complex review.”
The NPSA’s responsibilities include conducting cybersecurity training and consultations with enterprises, schools, and non-profit organizations, as well as collaborating with the police to strengthen protection against terrorist attacks. The Office will also work with other government agencies, such as the National Cybersecurity Center and the National Terrorism Administration, to provide comprehensive security recommendations.
Security Minister Tom Tigendhat explained that the NPSA will play a vital role in helping enterprises and universities protect themselves against hostile entities attempting to steal intellectual property. Last year, MI5 and the FBI warned British and American scientists and business leaders about the growing threat of intellectual property, academic research, and other confidential information being stolen by Chinese spies.
According to MI5 CEO Ken McCallum, the Chinese Communist Party has a keen interest in any developments in AI and other advanced technologies in Britain. McCallum cited the 2020 scandal involving a Chinese investor stealing intellectual property from British engineering company Smiths Harlow, which produces details for Bombardier and Rolls-Royce.
The complex review strategy was first announced by the UK government in 2021. But according to MI5 representatives, it is being updated this year in response to escalating tensions with China and Russia, with a focus on strengthening the country’s armed forces, as well as its economic and technological security. The NPSA will have a decisive role in helping to achieve these objectives.