Arts+Culture / NewsGCHQ is trying to recruit east Londoners with ‘graffiti’Losing a little faith in our national security hereShareLink copied ✔️November 13, 2015Arts+CultureNewsText Dominique Sisley Do you like overpriced coffee beans and magazine launches? Do you enjoy that Bitcoin dispensers exist? Do you closely observe strangers for no reason? Well, if so, I've got good af news fy rn irl – because, according to a weird new advertising campaign, you're probably the perfect candidate to guard the UK's national security. Apparently, spy agency GCHQ, Britain's answer to the NSA, has decided to look to London's Shoreditch for their next wave of employees – and they're not exactly being stealth about it. Using “cool” “reverse” “graffiti” ads, the company is trying to lure prospective talent away from the East End's technological start-ups, by using the only language they'll understand. There are GCHQ recruitment ads all over Shoreditch pic.twitter.com/auku5a1rGe— James Cook (@JamesLiamCook) November 10, 2015 The stencilled ads, which have been spotted in various locations around the area, read: “GCH-WHO? Technical Opportunities GCHQ-Careers.co.uk.” The company's press office confirmed to i100.co.uk that the ads were 100% real, and that they were an attempt to experiment with “innovative ways of reaching the people we would like to recruit”. And, given that there are over 1.5 million cybercrimes in the world each day, I'm sure they're getting pretty desperate. So, if you're interested – and fancy moving to offices in Cheltenham, Bude or Scarborough – you know what to do. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.TrendingWalter Pfeiffer, the cult photographer of beauty, sex and outsidersAs a major retrospective of his work opens in Turin, the Swiss image-maker reflects on magazines, finding success as an ‘outsider’, and why he’s still working at 80Art & PhotographyFashionNipples, nachos and mask4mask: The biggest trends at the Met Gala 2026 Art & PhotographyThings To Come: Porn saves the world in Maja Malou Lyse’s ‘bimbo sci-fi’BeautyNude awakening: Meet the young people embracing naturismFashion7 major political moments from the 2026 Met Gala PolaroidArt & PhotographyThree Dazed Clubbers on documenting a complete digital detoxBeauty10 of the hottest Instagram accounts fusing art, sex and eroticaBeautyHoroscopes May 2026: It’s a money month, so expect a surprise windfallFashionMet Gala 2026: The best dressed stars from the biggest night in fashionEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy