Ask HN: What to do when you suspect your interview is with a state operative?
15 puppycodes 1 8/29/2025, 12:26:41 AM
I'm curious what HN thinks is the best course of action when you are reasonably certain you have interviewed someone who is attempting to gain access to your company from a certain place that is famously totalitarian.
Let's assume they are a state actor, Here are some things that crossed my mind:
- Citizens from this region of the world are forced to do this and it amounts to slave labor. I have empathy for their situation. What is a responsible way to report things like this?
- I try to avoid communicating with law enforcement in general, is the FBI or other US agency the only avenue to warn others?
- Without hiring this person, what exposure should we worry about? What precautions are worth taking in the future?
Thanks for your insights :)
Comments (1)
scrubs ยท 4h ago
Emphasing with the individual has merit, but on balance has the wrong framing. It's the org the individual is in that's the real problem. I'd tell the fbi. Being a nice guy is counter-indicated here. The other side certainly isn't.