London/Istanbul, September 19(HS): MI6, the United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence service, has unveiled a pioneering initiative by launching a dedicated portal on the dark web aimed at recruiting new spies, with a primary focus on Russia. The new secure messaging platform, named Silent Courier, is designed to facilitate confidential communication, enabling potential operatives worldwide to anonymously contact the agency and share sensitive information about terrorism, hostile intelligence activities, and global unrest.
This announcement is set to be formally confirmed by outgoing MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore in a speech in Istanbul. The portal will be publicly accessible from today on Friday, accompanied by detailed usage instructions on MI6’s official YouTube channel. Users contacting MI6 are advised to use trusted VPNs and untraceable devices to ensure their anonymity and safety.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the critical role of national security amid escalating global threats, affirming the UK’s commitment to maintaining technological superiority in intelligence recruitment. She noted that this measure is part of a broader strategy to keep the UK one step ahead of adversaries by bolstering its world-class intelligence agencies.
The Silent Courier platform reflects a shift from traditional face-to-face recruiting methods to embracing the anonymity and reach of the dark web, which is often linked to illicit activities but now serves as a secure conduit for recruitment and intelligence sharing. This move follows a similar effort by the US Central Intelligence Agency in 2023, which targeted Russian operatives via social media and faced security breaches in China related to dark web communication vulnerabilities.
As Sir Richard Moore prepares to step down after a five-year tenure, he will hand over leadership to Blaise Metreweli, MI6’s first female chief. Moore’s farewell speech will highlight the open invitation to potential informants with the declaration, “Our virtual door is open to you,” signaling a modernized, technology-driven approach for MI6’s covert operations ahead.
This innovative dark web portal signifies a strategic evolution in intelligence recruitment, aiming to attract insiders from hostile states while safeguarding their identities in an increasingly perilous geopolitical environment.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
