POLITICO Interview with Richard Moore, Head of MI6

Summary

The transcript features a speech by an MI6 official discussing the agency's core business of recruiting and running agents in challenging environments. It highlights the importance of empathy, confidence, and understanding in forging relationships with courageous individuals from other nations who oppose their own governments' actions. The official addresses the current conflict involving Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the bravery of the Ukrainian military and the support from allies. The speech also touches on the growing significance of China in global affairs and the need for the intelligence community to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI, while maintaining ethical standards and prioritizing human agency.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The core business of the intelligence agency is recruiting and running agents in the most inhospitable places on Earth, with a focus on building relationships based on empathy, confidence, and understanding.
• 🔍 Maintaining secrecy is crucial for the agency, not for its own sake, but due to the high stakes involved in protecting agents and ensuring the effectiveness of their operations.
• 🌟 The agency recognizes the best human qualities are found globally, as evidenced by Russians in 1968 who opposed the moral travesty in Prague and those today who are appalled by the actions in Ukraine.
• 🇷🇺 There are Russians, including Yevgeny Pragosyn, who have turned against the Putin regime due to its fraudulent and miasma-like lies and fantasies regarding the war in Ukraine.
• 🇺🇦 The agency supports Ukraine in its counter-offensive efforts and believes in the importance of Ukraine's armed forces demonstrating their ability to innovate and mobilize new technology.
• 🤖 Artificial intelligence (AI) is seen as a tool that will augment but not replace human judgment in the intelligence field, with human agents providing unique insights and capabilities beyond AI's reach.
• 🌐 The agency is devoting more resources to China than anywhere else, reflecting its increasing global significance and the need to understand both the intent and capability of the Chinese government.
• 🔗 The agency's approach to diversity is driven by the belief that it leads to greater creativity and better problem-solving, which are essential for avoiding groupthink and enhancing intelligence operations.
• 🛑 The agency is concerned about the potential for hostile states to use AI in damaging, reckless, and unethical ways, and aims to uncover and disrupt such developments.
• 🤝 The agency's commitment to its agents is lifelong, with gratitude expressed towards those who have worked to support freedom and democracy.
• 📣 The agency's message to potential defectors within Russia is one of openness and a promise of protection, emphasizing the shared humanity and purpose in working together.

Q & A

What is the core business of the British intelligence agency mentioned in the transcript?

The core business of the agency is recruiting and running agents in the most inhospitable places on Earth, often at immense risk, and maintaining secrecy to protect the lives of their agents and the effectiveness of their work.

How does the agency view the relationship with their agents?

The agency views its relationship with agents as one of empathy, confidence, and understanding, emphasizing a lifelong loyalty and eternal gratitude towards their agents.

What was the significance of the 1968 Russian agents who joined the British intelligence agency?

The Russian agents who joined in 1968 were significant because they acted on their convictions against the moral travesty of the Prague Spring, choosing to support freedom and align with the agency's cause.

What does the transcript suggest about the current Russian sentiment towards the Ukraine conflict?

The transcript suggests that there are many Russians who are silently appalled by their Armed Forces' actions in Ukraine, recognizing Putin's case for attacking a fellow Slavic nation as fraudulent and a miasma of lies and fantasy.

How does the speaker describe the role of AI in the intelligence service?

The speaker describes AI as a tool that will make information more accessible and augment the judgment of intelligence teams, but also emphasizes that AI will not replace the unique value of human intelligence agents who can task, direct, and influence decisions.

What is the agency's stance on the use of AI by hostile states?

The agency is concerned about hostile states using AI in damaging, reckless, and unethical ways, and they aim to obtain intelligence on such activities to protect their citizens and counter these threats.

How does the agency handle the challenge of disinformation and fake news?

The agency places a premium on discovering the truth through accurate, verified reporting from human agents and technical operations, recognizing that in a world of disinformation and fakery, the unique characteristics of human agents become even more significant.

What is the agency's approach to dealing with the Wagner group and similar mercenaries?

The agency does not specifically mention its approach to dealing with the Wagner group in the transcript, but it does highlight the importance of understanding and potentially disrupting the activities of such groups, especially when they pose a threat to national security or engage in unethical actions.

How does the agency view the importance of personal data and privacy in the context of international relations?

The agency views personal data and privacy as critical to national sovereignty and cautions against handing over data to other states, as it can lead to a data trap that dilutes sovereignty and leaves nations vulnerable.

What is the agency's perspective on the strategic focus between Russia and China?

While Russia's aggression is a significant concern, the agency now devotes more resources to China, reflecting its increasing global significance and the challenges it poses to the UK's national security and values.

What is the agency's commitment to diversity and inclusion?

The agency is committed to better representing the country it serves by promoting diversity and inclusion, as it believes that diversity brings greater creativity, better problem-solving, and helps avoid group think.