A highly sophisticated hacking operation that led to the leaking of hundreds of emails from the Climatic Research Unit in East Anglia was probably carried out by a foreign intelligence agency, according to the Government's former chief scientist. Sir David King, who was Tony Blair's chief scientific adviser for seven years until 2007, said that the hacking and selective leaking of the unit's emails, going back 13 years, bore all the hallmarks of a co-ordinated intelligence operation – especially given their release just before the Copenhagen climate conference in December.King believes the leaking of the emails was orchestrated in a deliberate and sophisticated manner, and that the timing of the leaks was designed to destabilise the climate change talks in Copenhagen.
We will probably never know if a foreign agency was involved in the leaks, unless the people responsible own up. It would be frightening to think, however, that a foreign intelligence agency was deliberately trying to discredit the environmental movement.
My pick is that a group of highly skilled people, possibly ex-intelligence, were paid to hack into the emails. There are many business interests and lobby groups with sufficient funds and motivation to undertake such an operation.
But my knowledge of intelligence matters is limited to watching episodes of Spooks, so this is pure uninformed speculation.
I personally think it was an inside job; the fact threads of emails have been selected and that the data and programs are complete indicate a good working knowledge of how everything hangs together. Its just too 'neat' for a smash and grab.
ReplyDeleteFor a discussion on the ramifications of this and the ongoing on line coverage, see my weblink.