If you didn’t get to watch “60 Minutes” on Sunday and see the “Five Eyes” warn us all about China, put it on your list to watch soon.

The Five Eyes are the intelligence leaders of five allied countries: U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. I have never seen all five together before and it was daunting.

According to the segment (which you should still watch), China poses the largest risk and an “unprecedented threat” to the five allied countries, through a threat to innovation in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, theft of intellectual property, and theft of personal information of Americans. On my own soapbox, that would include the use of TikTok which is a national security threat.

 The Five Eyes are reaching out to the public to educate us on the threat of China to our national security. This is a highly unusual move, but one that is overdue as millions of Americans continue to view the threat as existential and not relevant to their TikTok dance videos. Wake up—when spy agencies have to educate us, there is a dire need.

Take heed of this well-written editorial by Matthew Brooker of Bloomberg and watch the 60 Minutes interview.

It is a matter of national security.

Photo of Linn Foster Freedman Linn Foster Freedman

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her…

Linn Freedman practices in data privacy and security law, cybersecurity, and complex litigation. She is a member of the Business Litigation Group and the Financial Services Cyber-Compliance Team, and chairs the firm’s Data Privacy and Security and Artificial Intelligence Teams. Linn focuses her practice on compliance with all state and federal privacy and security laws and regulations. She counsels a range of public and private clients from industries such as construction, education, health care, insurance, manufacturing, real estate, utilities and critical infrastructure, marine and charitable organizations, on state and federal data privacy and security investigations, as well as emergency data breach response and mitigation. Linn is an Adjunct Professor of the Practice of Cybersecurity at Brown University and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Roger Williams University School of Law.  Prior to joining the firm, Linn served as assistant attorney general and deputy chief of the Civil Division of the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Rhode Island. She earned her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law and her B.A., with honors, in American Studies from Newcomb College of Tulane University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Read her full rc.com bio here.