MI6, the UK's intelligence agency, unveils a secretive online platform on the dark web for the purpose of covertly enlisting foreign operatives.
MI6 Launches New Online Portal, Silent Courier, for Potential Informants
Britain's foreign intelligence service, MI6, has taken a bold step in the digital age with the launch of a new online news portal called Silent Courier. The service, unveiled by the outgoing chief of MI6, Richard Moore, in his valedictory speech delivered in Istanbul on Friday, aims to attract potential spies, particularly in Russia and around the world.
The launch of Silent Courier comes after Moore's public appeal in July 2023 for Russian citizens to spy for the UK. The new service will be accessible via MI6's website, offering an online form for individuals to fill in their information.
Accompanying the launch, a video promoting Silent Courier was released, featuring imagery reminiscent of James Bond's espionage. The video encourages potential informants to use Tor and a VPN to contact MI6, and advises users to create a new email address for replies, without using real identity data.
MI6 also advises individuals accessing its portal to use trustworthy VPNs and devices not linked to themselves, to mitigate risks which exist in some countries. The service will rely on the Tor internet browser for anonymous access.
Blaise Metreweli, the new MI6 chief and the first woman to hold the role, was previously "Q," the director in MI6 responsible for innovation and technology. Metreweli has worked in the Middle East and Europe before taking on the top position.
Interestingly, the CIA launched a similar online mechanism to Silent Courier, also on the Tor network, also appealing for potential spies to pass them secret news, in the same year.
The UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, stated that the UK is bolstering their efforts with cutting-edge tech so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK. The video promoting Silent Courier has a file apparently uploading, with the phrase 'transfer news' written in Russian, indicating the service's focus on targeting Russia.
However, no information is available from the provided search results about which VPN providers the British intelligence agency MI6 recommended for using the new online portal Silent Courier. The video promoting Silent Courier was released on MI6's new YouTube channel on Friday morning, providing instructions for using the service.
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