The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Research espionage is a real threat – but a drastic crackdown could stifle vital international collaboration

  • Written by James Laurenceson, Director and Professor, Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI), University of Technology Sydney
Research espionage is a real threat – but a drastic crackdown could stifle vital international collaboration

Australia’s research institutions are targets for nefarious actors, from China and elsewhere. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has publicly tabled[1] an “awareness” of various attempts to compromise the sector.

What are we doing about it? Not enough, according to critics.

One recent charge[2] is that Australia “lags behind” its allies and partners in responding to threats to “research security” such as espionage, foreign interference[3] and theft of intellectual property, emanating overwhelmingly from China.

This is far from the case. On the contrary, Australia’s flexible and proportionate response to the threat of foreign interference manages the risks without hampering the international collaboration that is essential to research in the 21st century.

Laggards or leaders?

Do research institutions really face a unique threat of foreign interference, compared with other sectors? And has Australia’s response really lagged behind that of other countries?

In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry[4] in late 2020, ASIO contended that the research sector does not face a unique level of risk. Rather, it is “just one of several sectors that is vulnerable”.

And far from Australia being a laggard, ASIO’s current director-general, Mike Burgess, told[5] the same inquiry in March 2021 that, in his view,

Australia is generally ahead of the curve when it comes to identifying and managing this risk.

Similarly, the Department of Home Affairs submitted[6] that local efforts had attracted “significant interest from international counterparts” precisely because Australia was “leading and shaping international approaches to countering foreign interference, in the education and research sectors”.

A changing landscape

Australia’s response to the risk of foreign interference has developed rapidly over the past five or six years.

In January 2018, Vicki Thomson, chief executive of the Group of Eight coalition of leading universities, insisted[7] the group had “not been provided with any direct evidence of overt influence in our universities”.

Read more: Universities must act to prevent espionage and foreign interference, but our national laws still threaten academic freedom[8]

Around the same time, Michael Spence, then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, recounted an earlier meeting between a group of university leaders and ASIO. He said they had asked directly[9] whether there was “any hard evidence” that foreign interference in universities was happening. The answer, according to Spence, was “no”.

The landscape has changed sharply since then. ASIO’s understanding of foreign interference has progressed, as have the briefings given to universities and the collective response by government and research institutions.

A collaborative taskforce

In 2019, the Universities Foreign Interference Taskforce[10] was set up as a collaboration between government agencies and research institutions. The taskforce has crafted best-practice guidelines[11] for managing the risks.

In Senate Estimates hearings[12] in March 2021, Burgess was asked whether universities were now “listening” to his agency’s warnings of foreign interference risks targeting the sector. He replied, “They are, very much so.”

The same month, Burgess[13] said he was “comfortable” that the outcomes of the taskforce were effective, and that he was “not predisposed to create some new agency or body”. Two months later, in another Estimates hearing, he commended[14] universities for having been “very cooperative and collaborative working with government”.

A photo of a bald middle-aged man in a suit in front of a sign reading ASIO.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has said the challenges of research security are being ‘well managed’. Mick Tsikas / AAP[15]

A year later, Burgess[16] judged the challenges were still being “well managed” and once again commended universities for their “excellent work”.

Senior Home Affairs officials have also noted[17] that engaging with universities via the taskforce had increased their own understanding of the research sector, which previously was “not familiar to them as much as others are”.

A proportionate response

In August 2023, the Department of Education released[18] a report on how universities are putting the Universities Foreign Interference Taskforce’s guidelines into practice. The report “confirmed an understanding of the threats posed by foreign interference, and progress in implementing advice in the Guidelines”.

The report also said the “extent and maturity” of implementation varied across the sector, but this was by design. The core principle[19] behind the guidelines was to take “a sensible approach that is proportionate to risk”.

Not all universities face the same risks. Some universities[20] have “gone beyond what is outlined in the Guidelines, understanding they may be more susceptible to certain risks”.

Essential collaborations

Taking a prescriptive and mandatory “one-size-fits-all” approach would have imposed unnecessary costs on research institutions. What’s more, it may well have stunted Australia’s capacity for innovation in the process.

This is why ASIO urges[21] that efforts to increase research security be “well balanced”. They should not get in the way of the international collaboration that is essential for research institutions to perform their role.

Read more: The Thousand Talents Plan is part of China's long quest to become the global scientific leader[22]

In 2024, China is a peer[23] of the US in research and knowledge creation. In many sectors where Australia has grand ambitions, such as the extraction and processing of critical minerals, China is the technology leader[24].

We must be clear-eyed about threats to “research security”. But a one-eyed focus on China, and adopting a simplistic and heavy-handed approach to managing these threats, will only leave Australia worse off.

References

  1. ^ publicly tabled (www.aph.gov.au)
  2. ^ charge (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ foreign interference (www.homeaffairs.gov.au)
  4. ^ submission to a parliamentary inquiry (www.aph.gov.au)
  5. ^ told (parlinfo.aph.gov.au)
  6. ^ submitted (www.aph.gov.au)
  7. ^ insisted (parlinfo.aph.gov.au)
  8. ^ Universities must act to prevent espionage and foreign interference, but our national laws still threaten academic freedom (theconversation.com)
  9. ^ asked directly (www.abc.net.au)
  10. ^ Universities Foreign Interference Taskforce (www.education.gov.au)
  11. ^ guidelines (www.education.gov.au)
  12. ^ hearings (parlinfo.aph.gov.au)
  13. ^ Burgess (parlinfo.aph.gov.au)
  14. ^ commended (parlinfo.aph.gov.au)
  15. ^ Mick Tsikas / AAP (photos.aap.com.au)
  16. ^ Burgess (www.aph.gov.au)
  17. ^ noted (parlinfo.aph.gov.au)
  18. ^ released (www.education.gov.au)
  19. ^ core principle (www.education.gov.au)
  20. ^ Some universities (www.education.gov.au)
  21. ^ urges (www.aph.gov.au)
  22. ^ The Thousand Talents Plan is part of China's long quest to become the global scientific leader (theconversation.com)
  23. ^ peer (www.science.org)
  24. ^ technology leader (techtracker.aspi.org.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/research-espionage-is-a-real-threat-but-a-drastic-crackdown-could-stifle-vital-international-collaboration-223555

Times Magazine

Building a Strong Online Presence with Katoomba Web Design

Katoomba web design is more than just creating a website that looks good—it’s about building an online presence that reflects your brand, engages your audience, and drives results. For local businesses in the Blue Mountains, a well-designed website a...

September Sunset Polo

International Polo Tour To Bridge Historic Sport, Life-Changing Philanthropy, and Breath-Taking Beauty On Saturday, September 6th, history will be made as the International Polo Tour (IPT), a sports leader headquartered here in South Florida...

5 Ways Microsoft Fabric Simplifies Your Data Analytics Workflow

In today's data-driven world, businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline their data analytics processes. The sheer volume and complexity of data can be overwhelming, often leading to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. Enter the innovative da...

7 Questions to Ask Before You Sign IT Support Companies in Sydney

Choosing an IT partner can feel like buying an insurance policy you hope you never need. The right choice keeps your team productive, your data safe, and your budget predictable. The wrong choice shows up as slow tickets, surprise bills, and risky sh...

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

The Times Features

NSW has a new fashion sector strategy – but a sustainable industry needs a federally legislated response

The New South Wales government recently announced the launch of the NSW Fashion Sector Strategy, 2025–28[1]. The strategy, developed in partnership with the Australian Fashion ...

From Garden to Gift: Why Roses Make the Perfect Present

Think back to the last time you gave or received flowers. Chances are, roses were part of the bunch, or maybe they were the whole bunch.   Roses tend to leave an impression. Even ...

Do I have insomnia? 5 reasons why you might not

Even a single night of sleep trouble can feel distressing and lonely. You toss and turn, stare at the ceiling, and wonder how you’ll cope tomorrow. No wonder many people star...

Wedding Photography Trends You Need to Know (Before You Regret Your Album)

Your wedding album should be a timeless keepsake, not something you cringe at years later. Trends may come and go, but choosing the right wedding photography approach ensures your ...

Can you say no to your doctor using an AI scribe?

Doctors’ offices were once private. But increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI) scribes (also known as digital scribes) are listening in. These tools can record and trans...

There’s a new vaccine for pneumococcal disease in Australia. Here’s what to know

The Australian government announced last week there’s a new vaccine[1] for pneumococcal disease on the National Immunisation Program for all children. This vaccine replaces pr...