Berlin sees spy threat to business

Berlin sees spy threat to business

By Hugh Williamson in Berlin

Published: May 15 2008 23:39 | Last updated: May 15 2008 23:39

Germany accused Russian and Chinese spies on Thursday of increasing their efforts to steal technical secrets from companies.

German business faces a growing threat from foreign spies using illegal means to get information on high-technology products, Heinz Fromm, head of the BfV intelligence agency, said.

Russia’s SWR foreign spy agency poses a specific threat, according to the BfV annual report, published on Thursday. Intelligence officials told the Financial Times they were alarmed by the appointment last October of Mikhail Fradkov as head of the SWR. He is a business specialist with an economics degree rather than a security expert, the officials said. The SWR has a “legal obligation to actively support Russian business”, the BfV says.

Wolfgang Schäuble, interior minister, said the authorities in Beijing were the main agents behind so-called “electronic attacks” via the internet and e-mail on computer systems of companies and government offices in Germany. Companies in Germany and other European countries have suffered a string of such attacks that have been sourced to China.

China’s emphasis on internet-based espionage contrasts with Russia’s focus on traditional methods involving secret agents and other infiltrators. Students, visiting experts and foreign trainees from many countries are active in Germany in gathering business intelligence, the BfV report said.

The German government is usually cautious about accusing the two countries of posing a danger to national or business security, as part of Berlin’s efforts to foster close relations with them. Both countries have denied targeting German companies.