Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, more commonly known as MI6, has taken an unprecedented leap into the digital age by launching a new dark web platform called Silent Courier, designed to make it safer and easier for potential informants to contact the agency from anywhere in the world. Announced on Friday, September 19, 2025, during a high-profile speech in Istanbul by outgoing MI6 chief Richard Moore, the initiative represents a dramatic shift in how the UK recruits spies and gathers intelligence—especially from countries where traditional espionage is fraught with danger, such as Russia.
Historically, MI6’s recruitment of agents relied on covert, face-to-face meetings, a method immortalized in novels and films featuring fictional spies like James Bond. But the world has changed, and so have the risks. The agency now faces a complex landscape of international terrorism, cyber warfare, state-backed espionage, and disinformation campaigns. According to the UK Foreign Office, the Silent Courier portal is a major leap forward in MI6’s ability to adapt to these rapidly evolving threats.
Silent Courier is accessible only via the Tor internet browser, a tool that allows users to surf the web anonymously. The portal acts as a secure messaging system where individuals with access to sensitive information can contact MI6 without revealing their identity. The Foreign Office emphasized that the platform was designed with maximum security in mind, and MI6 has posted detailed instructions on its verified YouTube channel to guide users on how to safely access and use the new service.
"Today we’re asking those with sensitive information on global instability, international terrorism or hostile state intelligence activity to contact MI6 securely online," said Richard Moore in his valedictory speech in Istanbul. "Our virtual door is open to you." His remarks, delivered as one of his final acts as chief, underscored the urgency and ambition behind the initiative.
The agency’s instructions are clear: users are strongly advised to use trusted Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and devices not connected to their personal accounts or identifiable information. The goal is to minimize risks for both informants and British operatives. MI6’s website, sis.gov.uk, also encourages potential informants to create new anonymous email addresses and avoid using names, phone numbers, or any data linked to their real identity. "Do not use a name, phone number or other data linked to your real identity when creating this account," the guidance states.
The launch of Silent Courier is especially significant given the current geopolitical climate. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, tensions between Moscow and Western capitals have soared, and the need for reliable intelligence about Russian military strategy, cyber operations, and foreign policy has become more acute than ever. MI6’s new portal is designed to reach potential sources in Russia, where the Kremlin’s internal security apparatus is among the world’s most formidable. But the platform is not limited to Russia: the Foreign Office confirmed that anyone, anywhere in the world, who possesses information relevant to UK security interests can use Silent Courier.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper described the initiative as a key part of the government’s broader security strategy. "As the world changes, and the threats we’re facing multiply, we must ensure the UK is always one step ahead of our adversaries," Cooper said. "Our world-class intelligence agencies are at the coalface of this challenge, working behind the scenes to keep British people safe." She further linked the platform to the prime minister’s Plan for Change, stating, "National security is the first duty of any government and the bedrock of the prime minister’s Plan for Change. 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."
The rollout of Silent Courier is accompanied by a slick promotional video, evoking the classic image of MI6’s espionage legacy—think lone agents in deep forests or SUVs racing across deserts—while also showing a mock-up of the service on a smartphone, with the phrase "transfer information" written in Russian as a file uploads. This nod to the agency’s storied past is meant to reassure potential informants that, while the tools may have changed, MI6’s commitment to secrecy and security remains unwavering.
The move by MI6 is not without precedent. In 2023, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) launched a similar dark web recruitment mechanism using the Tor network, specifically targeting Russian informants. The CIA’s campaign included videos on social media platforms urging Russians to share intelligence through secure channels. However, the American experience also served as a stark warning: according to The New York Times, China’s Ministry of State Security managed to penetrate some of the CIA’s dark web connections, resulting in the loss of numerous agents in China—a debacle described as one of the most serious intelligence failures of the last decade. British officials say they have learned from these incidents, building Silent Courier with enhanced security protocols and clearer guidance for users to minimize similar risks.
Richard Moore’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping this new digital direction. After five years at the helm, Moore is stepping down, having overseen major intelligence operations and advocated for broader engagement with those who might have valuable information for the UK. His successor, Blaise Metreweli, will make history as the first woman to head MI6. Previously the agency’s director for innovation and technology—often referred to as "Q"—Metreweli brings a background in both the Middle East and Europe and is seen as the ideal figure to lead MI6 into this new era of digital espionage.
Metreweli’s appointment signals a new chapter for the agency, one that embraces technological innovation while expanding MI6’s global reach. As the world becomes more interconnected—and as adversaries become more sophisticated—intelligence agencies like MI6 are under pressure to adapt. By offering a secure, anonymous channel for informants, Silent Courier aims to empower those with critical information to step forward, even from the world’s most closed societies.
While the precise technology behind Silent Courier remains confidential, the agency’s public-facing instructions and outreach efforts indicate a commitment to both transparency and operational security. The platform’s launch, set against the backdrop of mounting global instability, is a clear signal that Britain intends to remain at the forefront of intelligence gathering, no matter where threats may arise.
With the virtual door now open, MI6 is betting that the next chapter in intelligence will be written not just in the shadows, but across the encrypted corridors of the dark web—where secrets, and those brave enough to share them, might just help shape the world’s future.
