The Dutch military intelligence service MIVD is trying to recruit a new generation of internet specialists to improve its weapons against digital threats from Russia and China, Trouw said on Tuesday.

The service would ideally bring in 14 and 15-year-olds but this is, of course, impossible, director Onno Eichelsheim told the paper.

‘I am looking for the young generation. They are totally used to dealing with digital resources,’ he said. ‘For example, to gain more insight into new threats, I need people who can build algorithms to filter mass amounts internet data.’

However, too few people are being educated as internet specialists in the Netherlands, he said. And talented youngsters are more likely to pick a well paid job in the corporate sector.

‘We are looking for people with an orange heart,’ he said. ‘And of course, you can do things on internet for us which you are banned from doing as an ordinary citizen.’

The MIVD is beginning an internet recruitment campaign in the spring.