Security officials are to establish a national centre to counter disinformation and deepfakes generated by hostile states, including Russia, Andy Burnham has announced. He said the government had a duty to “stem the poisonous tide” threatening British interests.
The National Centre for Information Defence will work to “detect, attribute and disrupt” information attacks by foreign powers, many of which can now be amplified through artificial intelligence. It will bring together intelligence agencies, law enforcement bodies and social media companies.
The centre will be responsible for ensuring that the UK has the defensive capabilities needed to combat information warfare and strengthen national resilience. It will also help communities identify and challenge disinformation and prevent the spread of “distorted and untrue” narratives about the country.
Burnham warned that the UK must enter the next decade “eyes wide open” to “insidious” campaigns, many of them orchestrated by Russia and designed to distort how people view their country and communities.
In remarks that drew attention to the link between social inequality and vulnerability to foreign influence, the prime minister suggested that people struggling with the cost of living and young people not in education, employment or training could be particularly susceptible to manipulation online.
Speaking at the UN in New York on Tuesday night, Burnham said: “We’re talking about an insidious campaign that reaches into people’s homes and twists what they feel about their own country and community – creating a narrative of decline, stoking division and sowing despair.”
“On top of that, we have seen cyber-attacks on our companies and institutions. We know that AI will multiply the threat. We have tiptoed around this for too long. Over the last decade we have given too much ground to those who want to run a negative, corrosive narrative about life in Britain, which bears no resemblance to reality. Well, no more.
“We are going to face the new decade in a different way – with our eyes wide open. We are going to be much prouder in standing up for our values and the rule of law. And we are going to help our people to strengthen their resilience – because, faced with this information warfare, security starts in every home.”
Burnham’s address followed comments from Donald Trump at a UN press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which he said Keir Starmer’s rhetoric toward Moscow had been “too tough” and that London “needs to be a little bit careful”.
Downing Street rejected the US president’s remarks, saying that every UK prime minister, including Burnham, had consistently regarded Russian threats—including hybrid attacks and hostile rhetoric—as “egregious and unacceptable”.
“The UK is united with our allies on the importance of defending ourselves, and Russia’s aggression will not deter us from supporting Ukraine,” the prime minister’s official spokesperson said.
During his speech, Burnham singled out Russia, alleging that the Kremlin spends about £1.3bn a year manipulating information.
“Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people’s fears. They’ve used bots and fake websites. Falsified newspaper articles,” he said.
“They have forged the branding of 28 British organisations, including universities and the BBC. They have amplified far-right narratives. And we have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 general election.
“We also know that they have tried to stoke tensions and unrest in the wake of horrific events. The idea that anyone would try to use such things to their advantage is just repulsive – but it is what they do.”
Burnham argued that people who feel their lives are not improving may be more vulnerable to disinformation and deepfakes.
“If you’re struggling with the cost of living and your life is not improving – or if you’re a young person not in employment, education or training – then you are going to be much more vulnerable to this kind of influence,” he said.
“So part of the challenge is to lift our people up and create the opportunities they need. When inequalities grow too wide, our societies are at greater risk. So we will work to make life more affordable. And we will put in place the architecture we need to stem this poisonous tide.”
The UK plans to share its experience of information attacks with other countries and has already supported Moldova in protecting its elections from Russian interference.
“As more elections approach across Europe, more nations are grappling with these issues – some for the first time. So we’re ready to share our understanding of how these actors work, and how we can respond – because this is vital for our collective security and resilience,” Burnham added.
