Nvidia ‘honeytrap’ shows the power of sexpionage

Along with status and prestige, those who reach the top in politics or the military can expect another, less widely advertised perk: a seemingly inexhaustible supply of tempting sexual offers. But this is not merely another example of power being an aphrodisiac. Indeed, those attracting the most romantic attention are the ones who can least afford to indulge in it. That’s because some of these would-be lovers are digging not for gold, but for something infinitely more valuable: intelligence. Reports alleging that Nvidia chief Jensen Huang may have had a romantic relationship with a woman recruited to spy for China are a reminder that the age-old honeytrap remains as irresistible to the governments deploying it as to the unsuspecting marks who fall into it.

If China is suspected of planting this honeytrap, it may be because the country has form in the area. Some motives remain eternal, whether they be gaining proximity to a target to root out secrets and influence their thinking, the long-term receipt of intelligence that can be gained through the threat of blackmail, or the joy of embarrassing an enemy and exposing its defenses as porous.

Yet, in the internet age, potential targets have never been easier to reach. Those of interest to Beijing report being approached repeatedly on LinkedIn by attractive women with a keen interest in their careers. Artificial intelligence has made the process easier still, allowing spies to instantly conjure up convincing…