![]() Australia’s dedicated foreign intelligence collection agencies are the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation (AGO).ĪSIO collects foreign intelligence in Australia under warrant authorised by the Attorney-General, and incidentally through ‘human sources’. Our advice hardens Australian Government defences against clandestine espionage and foreign interference.įoreign intelligence relates to the capabilities, intentions or activities of people and organisations offshore.We discover espionage and foreign interference and degrade their impacts.ASIO works with all government agencies and the private sector to increase awareness of the threat and to implement effective mitigation strategies. ![]() Understanding and degrading the espionage and foreign interference activities of Australia’s adversaries is among the most challenging types of intelligence work. What ASIO does to counter espionage and foreign interference The continued evolution of technology increases the sophistication and complexity of attacks, while also becoming increasingly accessible. An increasing number of countries are pursuing a cyber espionage program as this offers high returns for relatively low cost and plausible deniability. The range, scale and sophistication of foreign powers engaged in hostile cyber espionage activity against Australian Government and private sector systems continues to increase. Shape the actions of Australian decision-makers and public opinion in favour of the adversary.Access our innovations in science and technology.Gain commercial advantage on matters including our energy and mineral resources.Gain privileged insights into our strategic interests and positions on international diplomatic, economic and military issues.Understand our strategic alliances and defence relationships.Hostile foreign intelligence services target us to: We expect the start of domestic and international travel will see a return of more traditional tradecraft on top of this new heightened level of activity. Travel limitations brought about by COVID-19 have seen an accelerated uptake and deployment of cyber and other methods by foreign powers to covertly pursue their intelligence goals here. The intelligence services of foreign powers are conducting espionage and foreign interference across public and private sectors, targeting our secrets, democratic institutions, military capabilities, critical infrastructure and community. Espionage and foreign interference in the 2020sĮspionage and foreign interference has supplanted terrorism as Australia’s principal security concern. One of the most insidious features of espionage and foreign interference is that even a small level of activity can have severe consequences which take years to be realised. It inflicts economic damage, degrades or compromises nationally vital assets and critical infrastructure, and threatens the safety of Australians. It damages our international reputation and degrades our diplomatic and trade relations. What is the harm?Įspionage and foreign interference undermines Australia’s national security and sovereignty. Interference is activity done in secret by, or on behalf of, a foreign actor that is deceptive, corrupting or threatening in nature and contrary to Australia’s sovereignty and interests. It is hostile to our national interests and is different to the open and transparent actions of foreign states seeking to influence deliberations of importance to them. Espionage is a crime punishable by up to 25 years imprisonmentįoreign interference involves covertly shaping decision-making to the advantage of a foreign power. ![]() Espionage can target defence, political, industrial, foreign relations, commercial or other information that is usually otherwise unavailable to the foreign power. What is espionage and foreign interference?Įspionage is the theft of information by someone acting on behalf of a foreign power, or intending to provide information to a foreign power which is seeking advantage over Australia. With great power comes great responsibility.Describing violent extremism-words matter.Technology, trades & project management.Foreign language & communications analysts. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |