Overview
- Bryn Harris, the Free Speech Union’s chief legal counsel, says three people posing as AI and computer researchers contacted him with unusual flattery and basic errors.
- Technical checks arranged by UK‑China Transparency indicated the accounts, which claimed to be US‑based, were in the Asia‑Pacific region and used stolen or fabricated images.
- Harris received the approaches in June, July and October from contacts claiming ties to Google and IBM using personal Gmail addresses and urging a switch to WhatsApp.
- He reported the profiles via MI5’s online portal and has gone public to raise awareness, stressing he cannot be certain who was behind the contacts.
- MI5 and the NPSA have warned of thousands of fake job adverts and LinkedIn profiles seeking insights from officials, academics and contractors, with officials describing the methods as low‑sophistication but high‑volume.