London, September 12, 2025 (Agencies): Britain’s foreign intelligence agency MI6 has unveiled a new secure online platform, dubbed Silent Courier, designed to recruit foreign informants — with a special focus on Russia — by providing a covert channel for sharing secrets.
The service, announced on Friday by the UK Foreign Office, uses the Tor network, a privacy-focused internet browser that enables anonymous communications. Silent Courier allows potential agents to securely send information to MI6 without revealing their identity. The platform is accompanied by a step-by-step guide posted on MI6’s newly launched YouTube channel, which instructs users on how to download Tor, use a VPN, and access the service safely.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hailed the initiative as part of Britain’s push to modernize its intelligence-gathering capabilities. “We are bolstering our efforts with cutting-edge technology so MI6 can recruit new spies for the UK — in Russia and around the world,” she said.
A Foreign Office press release stressed that individuals must take “significant precautions” when using Silent Courier, including employing trusted VPN services and devices unlinked to their personal identity. The agency warns that such steps are crucial in countries with strict surveillance regimes, such as Russia, where potential recruits could face severe repercussions if discovered.
The launch follows former MI6 chief Richard Moore’s public call in 2023 urging Russians dissatisfied with the Kremlin to share secrets with Britain. Moore, delivering his final speech as “C” in Istanbul on Friday, said: “Our virtual door is open to you.” He added that Silent Courier was designed to offer a safe and reliable digital pathway for those who wish to communicate with British intelligence.
Silent Courier is being likened to a similar initiative rolled out by the CIA in 2023, which also relied on Tor to attract foreign informants. MI6’s official website, sis.gov.uk, already provides general advice on contacting the agency online, including creating anonymous email accounts and avoiding personal identifiers. Silent Courier builds on that system by providing a dedicated, more secure environment for file uploads and encrypted messaging.
Friday’s rollout was accompanied by a professionally produced video evoking the spy mystique often associated with MI6. It features cinematic imagery of shadowy figures walking through forests and lone agents driving rugged vehicles through remote terrain, intercut with a mock-up of the Silent Courier portal. One shot shows a smartphone screen with the Russian phrase “transfer information” as a file appears to upload — a clear message aimed at potential Russian sources.
The launch coincides with a leadership transition at MI6. Moore is stepping down after five years at the helm, making way for Blaise Metreweli, who will become the first woman to lead MI6. Metreweli, known as “Q” in her previous role, has been the agency’s director of innovation and technology and is credited with spearheading efforts to digitize MI6 operations. Analysts say her appointment underscores the service’s increasing focus on cyber capabilities and tech-driven espionage.
Experts note that Silent Courier reflects a broader trend among Western intelligence agencies to recruit assets digitally, especially in countries where traditional in-person approaches have become too risky. With Russia’s heightened internal security climate since the Ukraine conflict, digital platforms may offer one of the few viable ways for potential defectors to reach out.