New UK agency to fight ‘information warfare’ from likes of Russia, Burnham tells UN
PM aims to ‘stem poisonous tide’ of disinformation and deepfakes with National Centre for Information Defence Security chiefs will set up a new national centre to tackle disinformation and deepfakes from hostile states such as Russia, Andy Burnham has announced, saying the government had a duty to “stem the poisonous tide” from damaging British interests. The National Centre for Information…
The UK government has announced plans to establish a new National Centre for Information Defence, tasked with combating disinformation and deepfakes originating from hostile states such as Russia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking to the UN in New York, emphasized the government's duty to "stem the poisonous tide" of damaging narratives about British interests.
The Centre will detect, attribute, and disrupt information attacks, integrating intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and social media companies to bolster the UK's defensive capabilities against AI-driven threats. Burnham highlighted Russia's annual £1.3bn investment in information manipulation, citing examples of falsified articles, bot usage, and interference in the 2019 general election.
He warned that vulnerable demographics, including those struggling with the cost of living or young people not in employment, are particularly susceptible to online influence. The Prime Minister urged the UK to approach the upcoming decade with vigilance, addressing growing inequalities that may exacerbate susceptibility to disinformation.
The UK plans to share its experiences with information attacks with other nations and collaborate in strengthening collective security.
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