While China is frequently cited as the main perpetrator of research-related espionage, David Vigneault noted that espionage networks are not limited to people of Chinese descent. He cautioned against simplistic stereotypes.
He said foreign intelligence services often recruit individuals of diverse backgrounds who have access to targeted research. The focus, he stressed, should be on behaviour and connections, not ethnicity.
Such comments come amid growing concerns about racial profiling in academia. Vigneault acknowledged this risk and said authorities must handle intelligence assessments with sensitivity.
He explained that espionage operations today are complex and multilayered, involving digital tools, intermediaries and front organizations not just individuals tied to one nationality.
For this reason, he said, universities and security agencies must base their actions on evidence and threat assessment rather than assumptions rooted in identity.