The heads of three secret agencies reported publicly to parliament for the first time

The heads of Britain's three key intelligence agencies - counterintelligence (MI5), intelligence (MI6) and the Government Communications Center (GCHQ) - yesterday spoke at open parliamentary hearings for the first time in history. The heads of secret agencies tried to prove: large-scale surveillance of email correspondence and telephone conversations, which was revealed by ex-CIA officer Edward Snowden, does not contradict the laws of Britain and serves the interests of its national security. They accused the whistleblower himself of almost aiding terrorism. Kommersant correspondent PAVEL TARASENKO also followed the hearings.

The names and identities of British intelligence chiefs have been classified for many years (pictured left to right: MI5's Andrew Parker, MI6's John Sawers and GCHQ's Ian Lobban)
Photo: Reuters

“The heads of the intelligence services have always worked under a veil of secrecy. Today they are more accessible than before,” the British government announced on the eve of yesterday’s hearing, announcing “an important step towards transparency (of the intelligence services - Kommersant ).” Indeed, it was only in 1992 that the name of the head of MI5 was first made public, and two years later the British government officially recognized the existence of MI6. Since then, the heads of the intelligence services have periodically reported to parliament, but until now the meetings have been held behind closed doors.

Yesterday, the “interrogation” of Andrew Parker, John Sowers and Ian Lobban (heads of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, respectively) by nine members of the parliamentary intelligence and security committee was broadcast almost live - just in case, British television channels broadcast with a two-minute delay. Much of the hour and a half meeting was devoted to the fight against terrorism, which, according to John Sawers, poses "the main threat to British society." Committee members spoke about the danger of “domestic terrorism,” as well as the growing number of lone terrorists not associated with global extremist organizations. In response, Andrew Parker urged lawmakers not to worry: since the bombings in London on July 7, 2005, intelligence agencies have uncovered 34 attempted terrorist attacks (including during the Olympics) - all of them failed.

At the hearings, intelligence agency leaders had to respond to accusations of ineffectiveness. One committee member asked directly why they had failed to predict the end of the Cold War, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the Arab Spring. “We are not soothsayers or know-it-alls,” John Sawers said only in response.

The most pressing questions concerned information that became known thanks to Edward Snowden. From the materials he handed over to journalists, it follows: British intelligence services, using the secret Tempora program, collect and analyze information about telephone conversations and Internet traffic. Both GCHQ agents and American intelligence agencies have full access to this information. Surveillance is carried out not only in Britain, but also in the Middle East, where, as it turned out, there is a secret British intelligence base.

According to the heads of the intelligence services, Snowden's actions caused them serious damage: militants of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations have already drawn the appropriate conclusions and are now switching to other methods of communication. At the same time, the heads of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ assured that the methods of work of their departments comply with the laws of Britain and serve the interests of its national security. And the scale of espionage, according to Ian Lobban, is greatly exaggerated. “We (GCHQ. —Kommersant ) don’t want to rummage through harmless letters and phone calls. I don’t hire people who would do this,” he assured. "MI5 people don't want to live in a surveillance society or North Korea either," Andrew Parker added.

However, all these assurances are unlikely to convince the British, who are concerned about total wiretapping. Yesterday their position was supported by a very authoritative person - the creator of the Internet, Tim Berners-Lee. In an interview with The Guardian, he called hacking by intelligence agencies of systems protecting personal information of Internet users a “terrifying and stupid” activity that negates the fight against cybercrime and cyberwars. At the same time, Mr. Berners-Lee stood up for journalists who publish articles based on the Snowden files: “By disclosing a lot of important information that requires full and frank discussion, the media are acting in the interests of the public.”

Such support for British journalists is very welcome. The day before, 28 members of parliament demanded that The Guardian take a “more responsible” approach to publishing information received from Snowden that “could undermine the vital work of institutions and people guarding security.” In an appeal to the editor-in-chief, legislators explained: before publishing materials, their content should be agreed upon with the intelligence services. In response, the editorial office admitted that they had already consulted with the government, and did not publish the most “explosive” information.

British intelligence agencies come out of the shadows