FBI Combats Foreign Influence

ACCORDING TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES REPORTED OVER 5.2 BILLION DOLLARS IN FOREIGN GIFTS AND CONTRACTS LAST YEAR. WELL, NOT ALL FOREIGN FUNDING IS HARMFUL. SOME APPARENT GIFTS COULD BE HARMFUL TO PROFESSORS AND EVEN THEIR RESEARCH. WGCUS CULTURE AND CONNECTIONS. REPORTER ELIZABETH ANDARGE ATTENDED A PROGRAM AIMED AT EDUCATING HIGHER LEARNING PROFESSIONALS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE. >> AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES HAVE ALWAYS RAN ON A SIMPLE PRINCIPLE SHARE IDEAS FREELY AND SCIENCE MOVES FASTER. FBI SPECIAL AGENT CHARLES MCGINNIS HANDLES PRIVATE SECTOR OUTREACH FOR THE BUREAU'S TAMPA DIVISION. BASICALLY COLLABORATING WITH INSTITUTIONS TO COMBAT NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS. HE SAYS FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS HAVE TURNED THAT PRINCIPLE INTO AN OPENING. >> SO THE INFLUENCE THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH FOREIGN ACTORS OR FOREIGN NATIONS STATES, IT'S OFTEN DRIVE BY, YOU KNOW, THEIR NEEDS AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM US. BUT PRIMARILY IT'S IN WAYS LIKE THE CHINESE IN CHINA TOWN PROGRAMS. THE WAYS THAT THEY WANT TO RECRUIT STUDENTS OR RESEARCHERS TO GET ACCESS TO OUR THE UNIVERSITY'S RESEARCHING LECTURE PROPERTY. FOR THEIR OWN USE. BACK IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. >> THE CHINESE TALENT PROGRAM, SIR. OFTEN GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED RECRUITMENT EFFORTS DESIGNED TO GAIN ACCESS TO CUTTING EDGE INFORMATION. BUT IT ISN'T ALWAYS ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY. MCGINNIS SAYS THE MOTIVE CAN BE PURELY ECONOMIC. >> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY A COUNTRY LIKE CHINA WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT TECHNOLOGY. AND THAT RESEARCH OUT. AND USE IT IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY IS TO GET AHEAD OF THE MARKET AND THEN DEVELOP THEIR OWN. BIOMEDICAL, YOU KNOW, USE OR FOR SOME OTHER KIND OF MEDICINE. AND THEN THEY PUT ON THE MARKET BEFORE THE DEAL. THE COMPANY THAT HAS SPENT ALL THE TIME AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPING IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE IT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY. THEY WANT. A LOT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THEY WANT IT AND THEY'RE GOING TO LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET IT. >> SEVERAL FGCU FACULTY AND STAFF IN THE ROOM SAID THEY'VE ALREADY RECEIVED UNSOLICITED E-MAILS OFFERING PAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESEARCH AND OVERSEAS PRESENTATIONS. MCGINNIS SAYS THOSE KINDS OF OFFERS ARE EXACTLY WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR AND LAID OUT RED FLAGS. >> NUMBER ONE, FULLY FUNDED TRAVEL TO CHINA. FULLY FUNDED TRAVEL TO RUSSIA. ANY KIND OF CONTRACT WHERE THEY HAVE TO ENGAGE IN A CONTRACT AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PAID FOR. SERVICES LIKE A SALARY. I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE SOME OF THE TOP RED FLAGS. SOME OF THE OTHER MORE INNOCUOUS ONES HAVE TO DO WITH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FGCU ALLOWS FACULTY TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY WITH FULL DISCLOSURE. >> ANY AFFILIATION WITH THE FOREIGN INSTITUTION PAID OR NOT MUST BE REPORTED TO THE UNIVERSITY AND APPROVED BEFORE IT BEGINS. THAT INCLUDES PARTICIPATION IN FOREIGN TALENT RECRUITMENT PROGRAMS. THE FBI SAYS ANYONE WHO RECEIVES A SUSPICIOUS OFFER CAN REPORT IT. TIPS DOT FBI DOT GOV FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M ELISABETH ANDARGE