The United Kingdom’s foreign intelligence agency launched a darkweb portal on Friday to recruit spies “anywhere in the world with access to sensitive information relating to terrorism or hostile intelligence activity.”

It will be unveiled by Sir Richard Moore — the outgoing head of MI6, formally known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) — in Istanbul, a city he knew from a previous stint as the ambassador to Turkey. Blaise Metreweli, the agency's first ever female chief, will replace him at the end of this month.

During his speech, Moore will say: “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.”

The secure messaging platform, named Silent Courier, is targeted towards the recruitment of agents rather than intelligence officers who want to work for SIS.

It is hosted on an onion site — a type of website on the Tor network that intends to enable anonymous communications. While the anonymity of the Tor network has often been abused by criminals, SIS now joins a large number of organizations, including the CIA and many news entities, that use it to protect sources.

Access instructions have been uploaded to a verified YouTube account (in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and Russian) alongside a video portraying “fictional brave individuals from around the world who have taken the courageous decision to make contact with MI6 using Silent Courier.”

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “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,” she added.

MI6 advises individuals attempting to use Silent Courier to download the Tor browser using a device that isn’t linked to themselves, and to also avoid using an internet connection directly associated with themselves.