UK Spy Agency Turns to Darknet to Counter Russia’s Espionage

Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, is set to launch a new encrypted platform on the darknet aimed at recruiting informants and streamlining the flow of sensitive intelligence from around the world.

The Gaze reports this, referring to BBC.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the initiative on Friday, saying the project, codenamed Silent Courier, will provide a secure channel for individuals to share information on illegal activities or offer their services to British intelligence.

According to Cooper, the platform is part of London’s broader strategy to modernize its intelligence-gathering capabilities at a time of rising global threats.

“Our world-class intelligence agencies are at the coalface of this challenge, working behind the scenes to keep British people safe. Now we're bolstering their efforts with cutting-edge tech so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK - in Russia and around the world,” she said.

The Foreign Secretary stressed that potential agents in hostile states, particularly Russia, remain a key target for the service. The darknet initiative, she added, is designed to lower the barrier for recruitment, making it easier for people in authoritarian countries to discreetly contact MI6.

The project will be officially presented later on Friday during what is expected to be the final speech of outgoing MI6 chief Richard Moore. Moore, who has led the agency since 2020, is stepping down this month. His successor, Blaise Metreveli, will become the first woman to head Britain’s foreign intelligence service.

The launch of Silent Courier also comes against the backdrop of intensifying espionage activity linked to Russia.

In February, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to abandon his personal email account following what security officials believe was a Russian cyber intrusion.

Earlier this month, London police arrested three people suspected of spying for Moscow, underscoring the scale of ongoing covert threats.

The agency has not disclosed technical details of Silent Courier, but officials suggest it will operate as a secure messaging hub designed to shield identities and prevent interception by hostile intelligence services.

As The Gaze reported earlier, Lithuanian law enforcement detained members of a Russian-linked network accused of orchestrating multiple terrorist attacks in Europe, officials announced on Wednesday.