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Olga Nasibullina examines how intelligence gathering and signal interception are moving beyond hidden state operations into everyday life. Highlighting recent European cases and technological shifts, she explores how accessible tools, evolving intent, and open societies are reshaping modern espionage and the competition for information.
February 9, 2026
Today, many media outlets and analysts are highlighting the growing importance of intelligence gathering, signal interception, and the subtle competition unfolding around communications and data. These topics are now firmly part of the public conversation.
At The Sign Media, we began covering this shift several years ago. We argued then that state competition was gradually moving into less visible domains – areas where infrastructure, signals, and information matter as much as traditional measures of power. What once seemed like a technical or distant issue has now become increasingly evident in everyday headlines.
Recent reports highlighting European concerns about possible interception of communications involving Russian systems have added to this discussion. While details remain limited, the episode reflects how closely governments now monitor communications infrastructure and the data that moves through it // FT Report.
Maneuverable satellites capable of approaching others are not inherently hostile; they can be used for inspection, repair, or debris removal. Yet the same capability can also be used for surveillance or preparation for disruption. Technology itself is neutral – intent is what defines its meaning, and intent in this domain is often difficult to verify.
At the same time, events on the ground point to another transformation. According to reporting by Reuters, French authorities recently arrested several individuals suspected of attempting to intercept satellite transmissions using specialized equipment installed in a rented property.
Intelligence gathering is no longer confined to specialized facilities or heavily guarded compounds. Equipment capable of intercepting signals or analyzing transmissions is increasingly accessible, portable, and commercially available. The barriers to entry have fallen, and the geography of espionage has expanded accordingly.
In the past, espionage was often understood as an activity conducted by professionals in controlled environments – embassies, intelligence stations, or carefully orchestrated operations abroad. Today, it can unfold in residential neighborhoods, industrial parks, or temporary rentals, blending seamlessly into the background of everyday life.
For open societies, this creates a delicate balance. The same openness that enables research, entrepreneurship, and cooperation also requires new approaches to protecting sensitive infrastructure and communications.
What we are witnessing is not a sudden transformation but a gradual one – an evolution that has been underway for years and is now becoming more visible. The competition for information is not new. What is changing is the scale, the accessibility of the tools, and the growing recognition of how central information has become to power itself.
Author: Olga Nasibullina, Co-Founder at THESIGN.MEDIA
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