FBI, NCSC film highlights foreign intelligence actions

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) have released a film designed to increase awareness regarding foreign intelligence activities.

The presentation outlines how entities use fake profiles and other forms of deception on social media platforms to target individuals in government, business, and academic communities for recruitment and information gathering.

“The Nevernight Connection” details the fictional account of a former Intelligence Community official targeted by a foreign intelligence service via a fake profile on a professional networking site and recruited to turn over classified information. The movie can be accessed at www.fbi.gov/nevernight.

“Social media deception continues to be a popular technique for foreign intelligence services and other hostile actors to glean valuable information from unsuspecting Americans,” NCSC Director William Evanina said. “Through this movie and other resources, we hope to raise awareness among Americans, so they can guard against online approaches from unknown parties that could put them, their organization, and even national security at risk.”

Foreign intelligence services and other potential threat agents often pose online as headhunters, interested employers, people with a shared interest, or others with enticing career opportunities to connect and develop relationships with individuals who have access to valuable and sensitive information.

“As this movie highlights, foreign intelligence services are posing as headhunters and consultants on professional networking sites to aggressively target Americans,” Alan E. Kohler, assistant director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, said. “We believe it’s critically important to educate the public in order to neutralize this threat from foreign intelligence services. We also believe it’s important to send a strong message to hostile intelligence services.”