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 · 3h 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.

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Ask HN: What to do when you suspect your interview is with a state operative?

Comments (1)