Spy chief "compromised" by Facebook

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 6 Jul 2009 at 08:23

The new head of MI6 has become embroiled in an embarrassing security row, after his wife posted personal information and family photographs on Facebook.

The postings, which have now been taken down, reportedly identified the couple's London flat, who their friends are and even where the family spent their holiday.

There were messages congratulating Sir John Sawers, who is due to take over as head of MI6 in November, on his new appointment with one joking that he was already being referred to as "uncle C". C is the designation given to the head of MI6.

The information is believed to have been posted by Lady Sawers, who failed to activate the privacy settings on the profile, meaning it was viewable by almost four million members of the site's "London" network.

The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats called for an immediate investigation into the blunder, but speaking to the Andrew Marr programme Home Secretary David Miliband claimed everybody "needed to grow up."

"The fact that there's a picture that the head of the MI6 goes swimming - wow, that really is exciting," he claimed. "It is not a state secret that he wears Speedo swimming trunks. For goodness sake let's grow up."

"He is an outstanding professional who will do a really good job in an outstanding organisation," he concluded.

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