Sir Ken McCallum, the Director of the British intelligence agency MI5, has stated that more resources are currently being spent on countering threats to national security than during the Cold War, the BBC reports.McCallum noted that threats from hostile foreign states have quadrupled over the past decade; while Russia remains the primary aggressor, there is also rising aggression from Iran targeting sites linked to Jewish communities and Israel, as well as military bases. He pointed out that Russia is waging hybrid warfare at a time when artificial intelligence is intensifying the cybersecurity race between attackers and defenders. McCallum also warned of threats from far-right terrorists seeking to utilize artificial intelligence—including by integrating the latest technologies into drones—though the most significant danger stems from extremist groups attempting to create new biological weapons or exploit existing ones with the help of AI. At the same time, the MI5 Director highlighted the extensive scale of efforts to counter terrorism and prevent threats to the country, noting that significant changes are underway.McCallum stated that Russia has stopped just short of conventional conflict with NATO, seeking instead to sow insecurity across Europe, while its full-scale war in Ukraine has stalled and is exacting a horrific toll in lives.Hybrid attacks are largely carried out by hiring proxies, and Russia—despite the evidence—consistently denies involvement. McCallum explained that MI5’s success in identifying and expelling Russian spies has forced the Kremlin to rely on paid proxies to commit crimes. He noted that nearly 1,000 Russian spies have been expelled since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine; with its own capabilities depleted, Moscow is resorting to paying criminals to do its dirty work. He added that a major power possessing strategic superiority would not act in such a manner. Following his speech, McCallum was asked about recent remarks by British politician Andy Burnham regarding Russian interference in the Brexit process; the MI5 Director replied that information about Moscow’s attempts to influence events was nothing new, though he emphasized the distinction between attempts to interfere and actually achieving a result. He noted that there had been coverage of the referendum in Russian media and activity by so-called bot farms and internet trolls, but maintained that the outcome of the 2016 referendum was not in question. McCallum added that he was somewhat concerned about current discussions regarding Russian interference, noting the importance of not playing into the enemy’s hands or exaggerating the scale of the troll activity.McCallum reported that Iran is expanding its hybrid influence campaigns. Over the past year, more than 50 arrests linked to Iran have been made. Much of this aggression is directed at Jewish communities, though other targets—such as military facilities—are also at risk. McCallum did not explicitly mention arrests linked to the alleged plot to attack the Royal Air Force base at Fairford, but he later told reporters that the incident was not unique and that Iran had shown interest in other military sites as well.The MI5 director also addressed the threats posed by artificial intelligence. He noted that AI could be used to create propaganda and radicalization materials tailored to specific individuals. The agency has reportedly intercepted terrorists seeking ways to leverage AI to enhance their reconnaissance capabilities and attack methods, with AI-enabled drones representing a new development. While AI-generated biological weapons have not yet become a reality, the technology holds the potential to raise the stakes.McCallum also highlighted the unknown threats that AI could pose, observing that humanity has no historical precedent for contending with something more intelligent than itself.
Russia, Iran, and AI pose greatest threats to Britain
