MI6 advertising on Facebook

Popular social networking site Facebook is being used to recruit secret MI6 agents, it was revealed today.

The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) has begun advertising on the website as part of its campaign to recruit operational officers.

The Facebook adverts were launched a few weeks ago in a bid to reach a large and wide variety of people, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said.

"The Secret Intelligence Service's open recruitment campaign continues to target wide pools of talent representative of British society today," she added.

"A number of channels are used to promote job opportunities in the organisation. Facebook is a recent example."

MI6 began recruiting openly in April 2006, using mainly radio and newspaper advertising campaigns.

It also recruits through its website, where candidates can fill out application forms online.