Czech counterintelligence identifies Russia and China as the nation’s greatest threats

At a security conference in Prague this afternoon, head of the BIS Czech counterintelligence service Michal Koudelka said that Russia and China continue to be the main drivers of disinformation nationwide.

The BIS labels Russia as the biggest threat, due to Czechia’s staunch support of Ukraine. According to Koudelka, Russia focuses on anti-Czech-government propaganda and criticizes the Czech cabinet’s support of Ukraine. China has also done the same, but to a much lesser extent – the country aims to destabilize the political order in Czechia.

"Our efforts to counter this pressure have intensified," Koudelka noted. The BIS chief also told journalists that the current Czech disinformation sphere was “spontaneous” and “fragmented.” 

According to the BIS, the main dangers of disinformation manifest themselves in large-scale demonstrations, of which there have been many that were against the government in Prague this year.

Koudelka stressed that politicians, civic groups, and the BIS work together to fact-check claims made online and do their best to warn the public of any fake news. The counterintelligence service primarily focuses on direct foreign interference, noting that disinformation produced by Czechs is relatively low.

The BIS reminded the press of a fabricated video generated by Russia of President Petr Pavel during his January election campaign and afterward. The video had been an elaborately edited video of Pavel saying that Czechia should directly get involved in the war with Ukraine by sending troops there. 

Russian-based agents also sent out a false text message in January this year, telling recipients that Pavel – bizarrely – had died.

The BIS also referenced anti-Israel propaganda generated by Hamas and Iran. Although present in Czechia, it has “not yet had as significant an impact as in other countries.” Koudelka said propaganda and disinformation are currently most closely tied to the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.

In its annual report from this year on general security threats to Czechia, the BIS also labeled Russia and China as the two biggest threats to the country’s security, including radical Islam.

Czechia has also not only had to protect itself from disinformation in its cybersphere but also fend off hacking attacks: 2023 saw the highest number of attempted cyberattacks from Russia in any given year.