The United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence service, MI6, has unveiled a secure “dark web portal” aimed at recruiting potential spies in Russia and other parts of the world.
The platform, codenamed Silent Courier, provides a protected communication channel for individuals with access to sensitive information relating to terrorism, espionage or hostile intelligence activity.
According to the agency, instructions on how to access the portal are posted on MI6’s verified YouTube channel. The intelligence service, which gained global fame through the fictional James Bond character, advised potential users to employ the Tor browser for anonymity, alongside VPNs where Tor is restricted.
“Our virtual door is open to you,” said outgoing MI6 chief, Richard Moore, as he launched the initiative on Friday.
The guidance, which is available in multiple languages, further urged people to use devices and email accounts not linked to their personal identities to avoid raising suspicion.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the move would help the UK stay ahead of adversaries in an increasingly complex security environment.
“As the world changes, and the threats we’re facing multiply, we must ensure the UK is always one step ahead of our adversaries. Now we’re bolstering MI6 with cutting-edge technology to recruit new spies for the UK — in Russia and around the world,” she stated.
Moore had earlier warned that the agency recently uncovered what he described as a “staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe” amid rising tensions over the war in Ukraine.
