GCHQ, the British government spying agency, has today poked its head above the parapet and joined social media.
It means the government body, closely allied to the CIA and NSA, can blast out its own messages to followers and keep track of your tweets without employing shadowy intelligence agents.
Officials phrased the move as part of a PR offensive to help the public “understand more” about its work.
It also promised to send out brain teasers and cryptography puzzles in an attempt to put a cutesy spin on mass surveillance.
Regrettably, GCHQ missed the opportunity to follow avid tweeter Edward Snowden, whose revelations touched on British as well as US intelligence.
Unlike the @CIA account, which opened with a joke, @GCHQ has so far been stony-faced, following a selection of worthy charities, politicians and government bodies.
It did, however, offer one flash of humor, choosing @007 as one of its first 30 followers.