Lovers and spies: How foreign agents use ‘honey traps’ to steal secrets
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has resigned following reports of an affair with a woman allegedly linked to Chinese intelligence, raising concerns about corporate espionage. The incident highlights the persistent use of 'honey traps' by foreign intelligence services to target high-profile executives.
Why it matters
It underscores the vulnerability of leaders in critical technology sectors to espionage and the geopolitical risks associated with global AI competition.
Think “honey trap” and you might imagine something out of a James Bond movie: a beautiful, mysterious woman who uses her allure to get close to an unsuspecting target, feigning affection while extracting valuable information. But this ploy isn’t just a spy thriller trope; it has a long history and continues to be used by spies across the world. The fallout for the companies and individuals ensnared in them can be spectacular. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang may have just learned that the hard way. He resigned Thursday after a week of turmoil surrounding his company, the world’s biggest AI chipmaker, sparked initially by reports that he’d had an affair with a woman who US officials believe was passing information to the Chinese government.
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