Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, has just taken a step straight out of a spy thriller – launching its own secure portal on the dark web to recruit new agents, especially inside Russia.

The platform, called Silent Courier, is designed to give people with sensitive information a safe way to reach out to the UK’s intelligence agency. The idea is to strengthen national security while making it easier for potential insiders to share what they know without being traced.

According to the Foreign Office, this isn’t just aimed at Russia – though it’s clearly a priority – but also at individuals worldwide who might be in a position to help the UK.

The news comes as Sir Richard Moore, MI6’s outgoing chief, prepares to give a speech in Istanbul. Later this month, he’ll hand the reins over to his successor, Blaise Metreweli.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper backed the move, saying:

"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. 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."

For anyone looking to get in touch, the process officially opens on Friday. MI6 will post instructions on its verified YouTube channel, guiding people on how to use the portal safely. The advice is clear: use a trustworthy VPN and avoid personal devices that could tie activity back to you.

This isn’t the first time an intelligence agency has gone digital with recruitment. The CIA tried something similar in 2023, targeting Russian officials through videos on social media. But the U.S. effort also came with risks—China’s Ministry of State Security managed to crack into the CIA’s dark web systems years earlier, leading to one of the worst agent losses in modern history.

For MI6, Silent Courier represents a bold, tech-driven attempt to widen its reach and stay ahead in an increasingly dangerous world. Photo by Secretlondon at English Wikipedia.