London: The United Kingdom’s Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) is preparing to launch a new secure web portal on the dark web designed to recruit informants and receive intelligence from agents in Russia and across the globe, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has announced.
The platform, named Silent Courier, will be unveiled by outgoing MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore during an event in Istanbul. The initiative seeks to harness the anonymity of the dark web to create a safe channel for individuals worldwide to contact Britain’s spy agency.
According to the Foreign Office, users will be able to pass on details of criminal activity, terrorism, espionage, and other security threats, or offer their services to the UK intelligence community.
Instructions for accessing and using the portal will be available on MI6’s verified YouTube channel, with strong recommendations to use VPNs and untraceable devices to protect anonymity.
The development marks a significant step in adapting intelligence-gathering methods to the digital era. New Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stressed the importance of the initiative, framing it within Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s broader Plan for Change.
“National security is the first duty of any government and the bedrock of the prime minister’s Plan for Change. 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’s efforts with cutting-edge technology so the agency can recruit new spies in Russia and worldwide,” she said.
Founded in 1909 but officially acknowledged by the UK government only in the 1990s, MI6 operates from the iconic SIS Building on the River Thames in London. Traditionally, only the head of the service, known as “C”, is publicly identified.
The move also reflects a growing trend among intelligence agencies to leverage digital tools for recruitment. The United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) launched a similar campaign in 2023, using social media to target potential Russian informants.
