MI6

Article summary

The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6), is the foreign intelligence service of the United Kingdom, tasked mainly with the covert overseas collection and analysis of human intelligence on foreign nationals in support of its Five Eyes partners. SIS is one of the British intelligence agencies and the chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (known as "C") is directly accountable to the foreign secretary. Formed in 1909 as the Foreign Section of the Secret Service Bureau, the section grew greatly during the First World War, officially adopting its current name around 1920. The name "MI6" originated as a convenient label during the Second World War, when SIS was known by many names. It is still commonly used today. The existence of SIS was not officially acknowledged until 1994. That year the Intelligence Services Act 1994 (ISA) was introduced to Parliament, to place the organisation on a statutory footing for the first time. It provides the legal basis for its operations. Today, SIS is subject to public oversight by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal and the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament. The stated priority roles of SIS are counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, providing intelligence in support of cyber security, and supporting stability overseas to disrupt terrorism and other criminal activities.…

Key claims

1. date of death: 1923-06-14 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
2. date of death: 1939-11-04 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
3. date of formation: 1909 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
4. date of foundation: 1909-10-01 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
5. date of foundation: 1934 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
6. date of foundation: 1942 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95
7. publication date: 1924-10-25 — source: Wikipedia · confidence 0.95

Discussion questions

1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
2. The record states that the date of death is "1923-06-14". What evidence would count against this claim?
3. The record states that the date of death is "1939-11-04". What evidence would count against this claim?
4. The record states that the date of formation is "1909". What evidence would count against this claim?
5. The record states that the date of foundation is "1909-10-01". What evidence would count against this claim?
6. The record states that the date of foundation is "1934". What evidence would count against this claim?
7. The record states that the date of foundation is "1942". What evidence would count against this claim?
8. The record states that the publication date is "1924-10-25". What evidence would count against this claim?
9. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
10. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1375266640