Most informative article from 2000. Always good for perspective. Very good insights into the lax practices, and efforts to address the problems with invited spies & leak procurement.
https://www.wnd.com/2000/05/447/
Did you know:
*FBI Reported that numerous foreign spies continue to gain access to U.S. Secrets by posing as media reporters.
*Reports are allowed full, unescorted access to U.S. State Dpt. buildings, perhaps even accidentally stumbling into SCIFs.
*Chinese Spy attended NBA Finals with full press credentials. FBI needed help to track.
*Recently (in 2000), a laptop with Top Secret classified information was reported missing. If one actually became public as this did, we can only imagine how often this may likely occur.
*According to FBI NSD Bereznay Testimony, “Over the last 15 years, no foreign intelligence service officer under media cover has been declared persona non grata for engaging in espionage activities.” He also told committee that many spies pretend to be reporters, but NONE have been forced to leave the country.
*Bereznay also said “ Historically, hostile intelligence services have utilized media cover for intelligence activities in the United States. However, because intelligence officers under media cover do not have diplomatic immunity, they normally perform in-depth but overt intelligence collection. Clandestine handling of agents or other covert activity is usually assigned to intelligence officers under diplomatic cover.”
*Bereznay closed with “ In addition to overt intelligence collection, intelligence officers under correspondent cover have been engaged in active measures campaigns designed to support their national interests and to influence United States policy makers. Active measures campaigns take the form of oral persuasions or the dissemination of written information favorable to their national policy – both of which are facilitated by intelligence officers under media cover. Hostile intelligence services use active measures as an inexpensive and relatively low-risk way to advance their international positions.“
*etc..