British intelligence agency MI6 launches its own darknet portal to recruit spies from Russia
The British foreign intelligence agency MI6 has announced the launch of its own specialized portal on the darknet for the purpose of recruiting new spies, particularly in Russia. This is reported by BBC.
The Foreign Office said the new secure messaging platform Silent Courier is designed to strengthen national security and make it easier for intelligence agencies to recruit agents. The department specified that potential targets of Britain would be agents both in Russia and in other countries of the world.
The move is expected to be officially confirmed by outgoing MI6 chief Richard Moore in a speech in Istanbul on September 19. Blaise Metrevely will take his place later this month.
On the eve of the portal’s launch, Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper stressed that national security is the primary responsibility of every government and a key element of the Prime Minister’s Change Plan. According to her, the world is changing rapidly, the number of threats is increasing, and Great Britain must stay ahead of its adversaries.
“Our world-class intelligence services are rising to the challenge, working behind the scenes to keep Britons safe. We are now supporting their efforts with cutting-edge technology so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK – in Russia and around the world,” the minister said.
From September 19, anyone who has sensitive information about terrorism or enemy intelligence and wants to communicate securely with the UK will be able to use the new portal. Instructions for its use will be published on the official MI6 YouTube channel. Users will be encouraged to connect to the platform through reliable VPNs and from devices that are not personally associated with them.
This step is a reflection of the practice of the US Central Intelligence Agency, which as early as 2023 distributed a video on social networks aimed at identifying potential Russian agents.
