Think Digital Partners, a leading digital transformation consultant, has published a report urging the UK government to develop an AI crisis response strategy to counter the spread of disinformation online. The report highlights the risks of AI-generated disinformation and the need for a coordinated response to protect citizens from the potential harm caused by fake news.
The UK government has been under pressure to address the issue of disinformation, particularly in the run-up to the 2019 general election. The Electoral Commission reported that millions of people in the UK were exposed to fake news during the election campaign.
THINK Digital Partners' report suggests that the UK government should establish a dedicated unit to coordinate the response to AI-generated disinformation. The unit would work closely with social media platforms, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders to identify and counter the spread of fake news.
The report also recommends that the UK government should invest in research and development of AI-powered tools to detect and remove disinformation from social media platforms. This would include the development of AI-powered algorithms that can identify and flag suspicious content.
The UK's Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, has welcomed the report's recommendations and pledged to work with industry stakeholders to develop an effective AI crisis response strategy.
Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Lucy Powell, has expressed concerns that the government's response to disinformation has been too slow and ineffective. She has called on the government to take urgent action to address the issue and protect citizens from the harm caused by fake news.