Ex-head of MI6 warns overseas states have ‘fingerprints’ throughout public service tech
EXCLUSIVE: Former head of MI6 Sir Richard Dearlove has warned foreign states have their ‘fingerprints’ all over our critical infrastructure and called for action to protect Britain’s hardware and tech independence
Sir Richard Dearlove said: ‘Foreign states, including China, have their fingerprints all over our critical national infrastructure’(Image: REUTERS)
A former head of MI6 has warned foreign states have their “fingerprints” all over our critical infrastructure and called for action to protect Britain’s hardware and tech independence.
Sir Richard Dearlove sounded the alarm as new polling, shared with The Mirror, found more than eight in ten Brits fear foreign governments could cut the UK off from critical infrastructure during a future conflict or international crisis.
Some 85% of people said they’d be concerned if a foreign government could restrict Britain’s access to infrastructure it currently relies on, polling from Merlin Strategy found.
Almost two-thirds of the public feel unsafe about overseas-headquartered companies owning technology or data underpinning some of Britain’s most sensitive national services. This includes the armed forces (65%), border security (65%) and policing and law enforcement (63%).
Sir Richard told The Mirror: “Foreign states, including China, have their fingerprints all over our critical national infrastructure – and that means we’re exposed.
“For the sake of Britain’s national security this cannot continue. The UK needs sovereignty over the technology and hardware that underpins its public services or it risks overseas actors taking control of them at will.”
MPs and campaigners have raised concerns about the UK’s reliance on a small number of US-based technology companies, including Palantir, which has contracts in policing, the NHS, and defence.
In a report published in June, MPs on the Commons’ Science, Innovation and Technology Committee warned “Palantir shouldn’t play such a significant role in the UK public sector”
It said: “The cross-party committee identifies Palantir as the most concerning example of the public sector’s growing reliance on a small number of major technology providers, including Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.
“Reliance on a small number of US-based providers represents a clear vulnerability, with ambitions to digitally transform public services potentially ‘at the mercy” of foreign actors.”
Amnesty International is campaigning for the NHS to sever ties with Palantir when its contract is up for renewal in February 2027. The group warns of the US software company’s tools being used by the Israeli military in its offensive in Gaza and of it supplying ICE with tools to track and surveil migrants in the US.
Amid growing concern over that reliance, the Burnham government has pledged to back British businesses.
In a speech to Treasury staff when he became Chancellor, John Healey said “backing Britain” was one of his top priorities. He said: “British benefits. British apprenticeships. British jobs. For every procurement pound spent. Buying British not if possible, but by design. In transport, in energy, in defence, in AI and in tech.”
A government spokesman said: “Keeping Britain safe is the first duty of government. That’s why we’re strengthening the cyber defences of services like the NHS, schools, and the courts, and are giving stronger direction to organisations that they must take cyber risks seriously.“We also have robust powers to scrutinise transactions from abroad that raise national security concerns, while we’re backing home-grown technologies through our £500 million Sovereign AI Fund to make our country more secure and resilient.”
::: Merlin Strategy, which was commissioned by Charlesbye, surveyed 2,011 UK adults on August 10 and 11.
