UK intelligence brokers have been moved as a result of Russia and China have entry to categorised data which reveals how they function, a senior authorities supply has informed the BBC.
According to the Sunday Times, Moscow and Beijing have deciphered paperwork stolen by whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The authorities supply informed the BBC the international locations “have information” that led to brokers being moved however added there was “no evidence” any had been harmed.
Mr Snowden leaked knowledge two years in the past. The former CIA contractor, now dwelling in Russia, left the US in 2013 after leaking particulars of intensive web and cellphone surveillance by American intelligence to the media.
His data made worldwide headlines in June 2013 when the Guardian newspaper reported that the US National Security Agency was accumulating the phone information of tens of hundreds of thousands of Americans.
Mr Snowden is believed to have downloaded 1.7 million secret paperwork earlier than he left the US.
The authorities supply stated the knowledge obtained by Russia and China meant that “knowledge of how we operate” had stopped the UK getting “vital information”.
BBC political correspondent Chris Mason stated the issue for UK authorities was not solely the direct consequence that brokers had been moved, but in addition the chance value of these brokers now not being in places the place they have been doing helpful work.
Intelligence officers have lengthy warned of what they see as the hazards of the knowledge leaked by Mr Snowden and its potential impression on preserving folks within the UK protected – a priority Prime Minister David Cameron has stated he shares.
According to the Sunday Times, Western intelligence companies have been compelled to tug brokers out of “hostile countries” after “Moscow gained access to more than one million classified files” held by Mr Snowden.
“Senior government sources confirmed that China had also cracked the encrypted documents, which contain details of secret intelligence techniques and information that could allow British and American spies to be identified,” the newspaper added.