Inside the Rise of 'Sex Warfare': How Foreign Spies Target Silicon Valley Tech Companies

Oct 23, 2025 02:15 pm CST

Foreign intelligence agencies are increasingly targeting Silicon Valley through sophisticated "sex warfare" tactics, with Chinese and Russian operatives using romantic relationships to infiltrate tech companies and steal valuable trade secrets worth up to $600 billion annually. This growing espionage threat extends beyond honeypot operations to include startup competitions, covert investments, and recruitment of ordinary citizens as informal intelligence agents, creating significant security challenges for America's technology sector.