On September 19, 2025, Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service—better known as MI6—made a bold leap into the digital shadows, launching its first official dark web recruitment portal, Silent Courier. This unprecedented move, aimed squarely at attracting new spies from Russia and beyond, signals a dramatic shift in how the agency seeks to gather intelligence and counter hostile threats in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Silent Courier, as confirmed by the UK Foreign Office and widely reported by outlets such as BBC, CNN, and Bloomberg, is a secure messaging platform that allows anyone with sensitive information about terrorism or hostile state activity to contact MI6 safely and anonymously. The platform is accessible via the Tor browser—a tool synonymous with the dark web and prized for its ability to mask users’ identities and locations.
“National security is the first duty of any government and the bedrock of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change,” declared Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, underscoring the significance of the launch. “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.”
Anyone wishing to contact MI6 through Silent Courier can do so starting this Friday. To help would-be informants navigate the process safely, detailed instructions are publicly available on MI6’s verified YouTube channel. The agency strongly recommends that users access the portal through reliable VPNs and devices not linked to their real identities, a precaution designed to mitigate risks in countries where surveillance is pervasive and the stakes are high.
“MI6 advises individuals accessing its portal to use trustworthy VPNs and devices not linked to themselves, to mitigate risks which exist in some countries,” the Foreign Office stressed in its press release. The portal itself encourages potential informants to create new, anonymous email addresses and to avoid using any names, phone numbers, or data that could be traced back to their real identities. “Do not use your name, phone number, or any other data connected to your real identity when creating this account,” the official site warns.
The launch of Silent Courier was announced in Istanbul by outgoing MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore, who used the occasion to deliver a message aimed directly at those with vital information: “Today we’re asking those with sensitive information on global instability, international terrorism or hostile state intelligence activity to contact MI6 securely online. Our virtual door is open to you.”
Moore’s Istanbul speech marks the end of his five-year tenure as “C,” the codename for the head of MI6. He will soon be succeeded by Blaise Metriwelli, the first woman to hold the top job at the agency. Metriwelli, formerly known as “Q”—the MI6 director responsible for innovation and technology—brings extensive experience from her work in the Middle East and Europe. Her appointment is widely seen as a signal of the agency’s ongoing commitment to technological modernization and gender diversity at the highest levels.
The unveiling of Silent Courier is not without precedent, but it is a first for MI6. In 2023, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) launched a similar online tool via the Tor network, specifically targeting potential Russian recruits. The CIA’s campaign included high-profile social media videos and instructions for secure communication. However, the CIA’s experience also serves as a cautionary tale: a devastating breach in China, where Beijing’s Ministry of State Security managed to unmask and dismantle the agency’s network, stands as one of the most significant intelligence setbacks in recent years, as reported by the BBC.
MI6’s approach appears to be informed by both the successes and failures of its American counterpart. The British agency has emphasized not only operational security but also transparency about the risks involved. The launch was accompanied by a slick, spy-thriller-style video—complete with nods to James Bond, forest scenes, and lone agents on desert roads. A smartphone mock-up of the Silent Courier service, featuring the Russian phrase “transfer information,” was prominently displayed, underscoring the portal’s explicit focus on Russia.
The decision to establish an official presence on the dark web is a calculated risk. Analysts and security experts, as cited by CNN, have warned about the dangers of using such channels for official intelligence work. They emphasize that while the dark web offers anonymity, it is also a domain rife with deception, surveillance, and potential for counterintelligence operations. The UK government, for its part, has acknowledged these concerns, insisting that the move is part of a broader strategy to stay ahead of adversaries and adapt to the realities of modern espionage.
The timing of the launch is also notable. It comes just over a year after Sir Richard Moore’s public appeal in Prague in July 2023, where he called on Russian citizens to cooperate with Britain. That speech, now seen as a precursor to Silent Courier, reflected a growing recognition that traditional recruitment methods—face-to-face meetings, dead drops, and coded messages—are increasingly vulnerable in a world of pervasive digital surveillance.
“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 reiterated, highlighting the pressure on intelligence agencies to innovate and adapt. The hope is that Silent Courier will make it easier for individuals, especially those in Russia and other adversarial states, to pass on critical information without exposing themselves to undue risk.
While the technical details of Silent Courier remain closely guarded, MI6’s public-facing website and YouTube channel provide a rare glimpse into the agency’s evolving playbook. The agency’s advice to potential informants is clear: prioritize your safety, use anonymizing tools, and avoid any digital breadcrumbs that could lead back to you.
The launch of Silent Courier is more than just a technological upgrade—it is a statement of intent. MI6 is signaling to the world, and especially to those living under repressive regimes, that the door to cooperation is open, and that the tools to do so securely are now within reach. Whether this bold experiment will pay off remains to be seen, but for now, Britain’s spies are betting that in the age of digital espionage, anonymity is the ultimate weapon.
As the agency transitions to new leadership and the world of intelligence continues to evolve, all eyes will be on Silent Courier—and on those who dare to use it.
