# Former CIA Officer Warns US Firms are Underestimating Chinese Espionage Risks

- Link: https://viralbrief.top/former-cia-officer-warns-us-firms-are-underestimating-chinese-espionage-risks/
- Published: 2026-11-11T12:03:32+00:00
- Author: Olamide

## A Growing Corporate Threat

Michele Rigby Assad, a former undercover CIA intelligence officer with a decade 
of experience in the Middle East, is sounding the alarm on the vulnerability of 
American corporations to foreign intelligence operations. Assad, who served in the
CIA from 2002 to 2012, now operates as a consultant and trainer, helping private
sector entities identify and mitigate risks posed by foreign actors. Her warnings
come at a time when the FBI has reported a significant surge in counterintelligence
activity, with China-related cases accounting for nearly half of the bureau’s 5,000
active investigations.

The urgency of the situation is highlighted by the ongoing investigation into Nvidia.
The company’s board is currently looking into whether CEO Jensen Huang was specifically
targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. While Nvidia has stated it has no reason
to believe that company secrets or national security were compromised, the case 
has brought the broader issue of corporate espionage into the spotlight. Assad noted
that given Nvidia’s pivotal role in the global AI race, the possibility of its leadership
being targeted is not surprising.

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## The Mechanics of Recruitment

Assad emphasizes that foreign intelligence services often target individuals through
seemingly benign interactions. Recruitment frequently begins with professional invitations,
such as requests to speak at conferences or provide expert insights. Once a rapport
is established, these contacts may offer payment for reports or data, gradually 
escalating the requests to more sensitive information. According to Assad, the danger
lies in how natural these interactions feel, often leading individuals to underestimate
the risks until they are deeply compromised.

Intelligence operatives are adept at identifying personal vulnerabilities, whether
they are financial, professional, or emotional. Assad noted that if a target feels
unappreciated or lonely, operatives may even utilize “honeypots”—social engineering
tactics designed to exploit personal relationships. By playing on these weaknesses,
foreign services can turn unsuspecting employees into sources of proprietary information.

## The Cost of Optimism Bias

A major hurdle in protecting American technology is what Assad describes as “optimism
bias.” Many corporate leaders operate under the assumption that their business dealings
are purely commercial, failing to recognize that their intellectual property is 
a high-value target for foreign governments. “If you have products that are of interest
to the Chinese and you’ve spent millions or billions of dollars developing that 
product, you are a target,” Assad explained. She argues that it is significantly
cheaper for foreign entities to steal research and designs than to replicate the
billions of dollars in R&D required to develop them.

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Federal officials have echoed these concerns, noting that espionage often mimics
ordinary business activity. This includes “too perfect” investor inquiries, unusual
requests for access from new hires, or friendly contacts who slowly probe for restricted
information. Despite these warnings, Assad believes that companies in strategically
important sectors—such as the aerospace industry in Florida—remain largely under-
trained and exposed.

## A Call for Proactive Defense

The gap in corporate preparedness is a critical concern for national security. Assad
recounted personal observations in Florida’s Space Coast, where she witnessed individuals
she identified as potential operatives engaging in reconnaissance near sensitive
development sites. While such observations remain anecdotal, they align with federal
advisories warning that commercial space companies, including major players like
SpaceX and Blue Origin, are frequent targets for foreign intelligence entities seeking
sensitive data.

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Assad maintains that until companies prioritize counterintelligence training, they
will continue to be vulnerable. She advocates for a culture shift where employees
are trained to recognize the signs of an intelligence operation in real life. “It
takes a disaster for people to realize that a little bit of training could have 
mitigated the risk,” she said. As the competition for technological dominance intensifies,
the private sector’s ability to defend its intellectual property may prove just 
as vital as the security measures employed by the state.

**Source:** [businessinsider.com](https://www.businessinsider.com/former-cia-officer-says-what-nvidia-case-can-teach-companies-2026-11)

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Former CIA intelligence officer Michele Rigby Assad warns that American corporations
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