The head of MI6 has said the information revolution represents both an "existential threat and a golden opportunity".

In rare public comments Alex Younger, who took over as Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service in 2014, said it had fundamentally changed the operating environment for the intelligence community.

He also said the actions of Edward Snowden had undermined trust between intelligence agencies and technology companies, and been "highly problematic".

Mr Younger said the focus was on recruiting officers of the "highest moral literacy".