The CIA is taking steps to facilitate communication for potential informants in Iran, China, and North Korea by providing simplified guidelines on how to reach out to U.S. intelligence online.
In a recent announcement, the agency shared instructions in several languages, including Korean, Mandarin, and Farsi, showcasing ways for individuals to contact U.S. officials while ensuring their safety.
Farsi is spoken by over 100 million people, mainly in Iran and neighboring countries, while Mandarin boasts more than a billion speakers in China.
“People worldwide want to connect with us, and we’re guiding them on how to do so securely,” the CIA stated. “Our successful outreach in Russia inspires us to communicate our availability to others under authoritarian regimes.”
Reflecting back, similar guidelines were released two years ago in Russian to assist safe communication amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These earlier instructions involved accessing a dark web site using an encryption-enabled Tor browser.
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Wednesday’s instructions include detailed advice for secure contact via both public and dark web channels, emphasizing anonymity. They feature text-based videos and infographics covering subjects like using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to avoid government scrutiny and tips for selecting secure devices.
Once a message is received, the CIA will review it, although they noted that responses might not always be immediate, depending on the security context.
“Expect some delay in responding to your message due to our evaluation process. In some cases, we may not reply based on our assessment of your safety,” they added.
The CIA also disseminated these security recommendations on platforms like Telegram, YouTube, and X, which, although blocked in some countries, can still be accessed via VPNs.
Human rights advocates highlight that this move comes amid a rise in “digital authoritarianism” seen in regions like China, Russia, and Iran, where governments impose censorship and surveillance efforts to restrict information dissemination.
While tools like VPNs can help bypass these barriers, they also present risks. The CIA advises individuals to choose their tools carefully, recommending that users avoid VPN providers based in countries hostile to the U.S.
This article includes contributions from the Associated Press.