MI5 dumps spies who can’t use Facebook

British intelligence outfit MI5 is turning out dozens of its older staff because their computer skills are not sufficient to master social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

British intelligence outfit MI5 is turning out dozens of its older staff because their computer skills are not sufficient to master social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

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According to The Telegraph, intelligence chiefs say that potential terrorists are increasingly using the Internet to plan attacks. Extremists to communicate are using social networking websites and officers need to be able to monitor discussions, the officials added.

MI5’s service’s director general, Jonathan Evans, revealed the redundancy programme to MPs Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee last month, the Daily Mail reported.

Evans said: “I think some of the staff perhaps aren’t quite the ones that we will want for the future.” A recruitment drive is being aimed at students with computer degrees.