News / Politics

Internet firms must share data with government: EX-MI6 chief

Wednesday, 21 January 2015 8:56 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 21 January 2015 10:21 AM ]

The headquarters of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) (file photo)

The former head of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) says internet firms should share data with intelligence institutions in efforts to avert terrorist incidents.

Sir John Sawers, who stepped down as the MI6’s chief back in November 2014, said that the “trust” between spy agencies and internet firms, which decreased following revelations by US whistleblower Edward Snowden, needed to be restored.

“Snowden threw a massive rock in the pool. The ripples from that have still not died down,” said Sawers in his first public remarks since being succeeded by Alex Younger upon his retirement.

“It was certainly a great concern for me that the - if you like - informal co-operation that worked well between most technology companies and communication companies and security services was broken by the Snowden revelations and has not been repaired,” added Sawers, who previously served as Britain’s UN ambassador.

The ex-MI6 chief said he believed that the collaboration between spy agencies and internet companies would help prevent attacks such as those in Paris earlier in the month.

He further said internet could not have “no-go areas” for the government.

“We cannot have no-go areas in our communities where the police cannot go, because that just allows space for the evil-doers to ply their trades,” Sawers said.

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