GCHQ staff teach 'future spies' in schools

Please move this to the right place

Thank you please

www.bbc.co.uk...

Schoolchildren as young as 12 are being introduced to the secret world of intelligence gathering in a programme run by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) across the UK.

Aspiring code-breakers and fighters of cyber-crime are given plenty of encouragement to develop their skills by the teams of GCHQ ambassadors who get involved in after-school science clubs.

At Chosen Hill School there is much excitement about experiments set up by GCHQ specialists to send and receive secret messages and to intercept communications.

I don't like this

My lad is off to that school next year. I just know he'll love that.

I don't think that learning about codes and things is going to turn someone into a government drone. Who's to say that the kids won't use their new skills to help out at wikileaks or something.

I don't know what it's like in the states but at least here in college it's more obvious. There are students that feel an attraction to the central intelligence agency and they get trained with their education for certain ways. Professors will accommodate them for it. I didn't know they would plan as early as elementary school. Our education then is in the movies and with Hollywood but schools don't directly do it.

reply to post by Pockets


Could you explain why you don't like it?

I mean Science clubs. It's good to encourage Science as many young people are losing interest in it and we seem to be falling behind other countries in that respect, or we're in danger of doing so.

We're also slipping behind in terms of cyber defense while China is becoming more and more aggressive and advanced in that area.

reply to post by Kram09

Could you explain why you don't like it?

Of course, I don't like intelligence agency's teaching children to intercept communication's

reply to post by Pockets


In actual fact, they will be teaching them maths. Cos that is what code breaking is really all about. All kids love codes, I used to get code wheels and things in comics when I was a kid, mine often fiddle about with invisible ink and things.

If GCHQ are trying to brainwash the kids into accepting that they shouldnt have any privacy, then that's one thing, but as far as I'm aware, they're just showing them how interesting stuff can be.

reply to post by SprocketUK


www.bbc.co.uk...

At Chosen Hill School there is much excitement about experiments set up by GCHQ specialists to send and receive secret messages and to intercept communications.

intercept communications

reply to post by Pockets


I shouldn't worry, half those kids are probably already hacking their neighbours wireless anyway.

Hasn't the British media been speaking of a lack of spies and employees in MI5 and MI6 for a number of years now? Trying to get children interested so they might consider a career in that field since we're lacking on spies? Why is the OP thinking that spies are always bad and evil? What about the good that spies do, like warn us of terrorist plots or possible attacks?

Isnt there a kids T.V programme about MI6?.
I suggest they are trying to make spying look cool and the like becuase the first thing they do is target the kids with propaganda.

Originally posted by HeresHowItGoes
Isnt there a kids T.V programme about MI6?.
I suggest they are trying to make spying look cool and the like becuase the first thing they do is target the kids with propaganda.

A bit like James Bond, eh?

reply to post by curious7

Why is the OP thinking that spies are always bad and evil?

Why do you assume you know what I think?

I just don't like communication intercepts, whatever happened to privacy?

reply to post by Pockets


We lost privacy with the cold war and the war on terror. It seems that any act can be justified under these "threats".

I think it will do kids good to learn what goes on and how its dine. It may make them a bit more savvy about such things when they are older and maybe less liable to be conned into accepting their lot.

Originally posted by Pockets
reply to post by curious7

 

Why is the OP thinking that spies are always bad and evil?

Why do you assume you know what I think?

I just don't like communication intercepts, whatever happened to privacy?

Your wording made the assumption ring true in my eyes an besides, as Sprocket said, we've been slowly losing privacy for decades anyway.

Plus if we didn't have spies intercepting communications we'd have more terrorist plots becoming successful rather than being stopped early on in the planning stages.

reply to post by curious7

if we didn't have spies intercepting communications we'd have more terrorist plots

I do not agree with that

The trouble is that intelligence agencies have too much power.
The road to this situation is obvious in hindsight.
WW2 intelligence agencies are set up across Europe. In Britain mi5 mi6.
The cold war happens intelligence agencies are given more power and made larger..
In Britain IRA terrorists are a threat> MI5 MI6 ARE GIVEN MORE POWER.
The middle east terrorists area threat, MI5 MI6 ARE GIVEN EVEN MORE POWER.
Whenever there is a threat intelligence agencies are given more power/funding.
If we imagine this all over the world, we find a picture where they very nearly are in charge.
Elections become less important as the same organisations have too much power.
We are almost in a situation where the largest real threat is peace. If this becomes true, in peace they could cooperate: they would eventually control the world. Whenever any group attacks a country or it's people, the spies get one step closer to total control.