Security chiefs are set to establish a new national centre aimed at combating disinformation and deepfakes originating from hostile states, including Russia. Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced the creation of the National Centre for Information Defence, stating the government's duty to "stem the poisonous tide" damaging British interests.
The new centre will be tasked with detecting, attributing, and disrupting information attacks by foreign powers, many of which are enabled by AI. It will integrate intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and social media companies to build national resilience and help communities identify and combat disinformation.
Speaking at the UN in New York, Mr Burnham highlighted that the country must approach the next decade "eyes wide open" regarding "insidious" campaigns, many orchestrated by Russia. He suggested that Britons struggling with the cost of living and young people not in education, training, or employment might be particularly susceptible to foreign influence online.
Mr Burnham also stated that Russia's Kremlin spends around £1.3bn each year on manipulating information. He cited evidence of Russian agencies using bots, fake websites, falsified newspaper articles, and forging the branding of 28 British organisations, including universities and the BBC, and attempting to interfere with the 2019 general election.