In an effort to make it easier for potential informants in Iran, China and North Korea to share intelligence with the U.S., the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is simplifying the process by posting instructions online.
The agency published Wednesday online instructions in multiple languages, including Korean, Mandarin, and Farsi, detailing how potential informants can discreetly contact U.S. intelligence officials without compromising their safety.
Farsi is spoken by more than 100 million people in Iran and nearby countries, while Mandarin, with more than 1 billion speakers, is the majority language in China.
“People are trying to reach out to us from around the world and we are offering them instructions for how to do that safely,” the CIA said in a statement. “Our efforts on this front have been successful in Russia, and we want to make sure individuals in other authoritarian regimes know that we’re open for business.”
These instructions are similar to those posted two years ago in Russian, aimed at enabling safe communication following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Those instructions were on how to access a site on the dark web through a browser that has encryption protections.
According to the agency’s director, William Burns, the disaffection in Russia after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has created a “once-in-a-generation” recruiting opportunity for the CIA.on how to access a site on the dark web accessible only through a Tor internet browser, which unlike most browsers has encryption protections.
Newsweek has reached out to the CIA via online email form for comment.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
The instructions posted on Wednesday offer comprehensive advice on using both the public internet and the dark web for secure contact, using methods that mask user identities. These steps, presented in text-only videos and infographics, include using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to bypass government surveillance, along with tips on selecting untraceable devices and deleting web histories.
Once a message lands at the agency, the CIA will evaluate it, the agency said.
“The evaluation process of each message may take time. Based upon our assessment of your security situation, CIA may not reply.”
The security tips were also posted on platforms like Telegram, YouTube, and X, among others. While many of these platforms are blocked in China, Iran, and Russia, users can still access them with VPNs.
According to human rights groups, this comes as the rise of “digital authoritarianism” has been seen in China, Russia and Iran as they block and censor websites, conduct digital surveillance and restrict bandwidth to suppress any criticism or cut off information.
While VPNs and other tools offer ways around this censorship, it has also made them a target. In its instructions to potential sources, the CIA warned to be selective, as their well-being could depend on choosing the right program.
“Use a VPN provider not headquartered in Russia, Iran, or China, or any other country that is considered unfriendly to the United States,” the agency wrote in its instructions for Mandarin users.
This article includes reporting from the Associated Press.
