LONDON (AP) — A former British spy chief says parents should let kids spend more time online so they will learn vital cyber-skills, countering the conventional parenting advice.

Robert Hannigan, ex-director of government electronic surveillance agency GCHQ, challenges "the assumption that time online or in front of a screen is life wasted."

Writing in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph newspaper, Hannigan said: "We need young people to explore this digital world just as they explore the physical world."

Hannigan, who stepped down earlier this year, says Britain desperately needs more computer scientist...