The British government’s rather ham-fisted attempt to suppress a list of its special intelligence service (SIS) officers has seen the list propagated widely over the web. I understand that a US- based web site has… published on the internet a list which identifies a large number of SIS (MI6) officers, wrote Rear Admiral David Pulvertaft, described by Reuters as an advisor to the UK media on matters of national security. Defence Advisory Notice No 6 asks editors and programme makers to seek advice before publishing such details unless they have been widely disclosed or discussed as such action could put lives at risk.
Once Pulvertaft had brought the web site – built by a disgruntled former MI6 staffer – to media attention, it was, naturally enough, widely disclosed and discussed. Even after the government had tracked down the original web site and its replacement, and had closed them down, the flurry of activity has inspired a host of sites to mirror the content. As containment measures go, the Pulvertaft’s notice was remarkably self-defeating. Next we’ll see public relations firms using similar warnings to hawk their wares.
