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Foreign Disinformation Campaigns Threaten British Democracy, Warns Senior MP
Foreign disinformation campaigns, including Iranian bot farms and manipulated algorithms, are actively working to undermine British democracy, according to Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee.
Thornberry has raised the alarm about various coordinated efforts to spread falsehoods about the UK online, including Iranian operations promoting Scottish nationalism and algorithms that depict London as “an overwhelmingly dangerous” city despite contradicting crime statistics.
“We are constantly suffering from disinformation campaigns from both state and non-state actors,” Thornberry stated, adding that online disinformation about Britain is being amplified by prominent figures including former US President Donald Trump and various politicians in both the US and UK.
In response to these growing threats, the committee has formally invited executives from major social media platforms—X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and TikTok—to provide testimony on foreign disinformation targeting the United Kingdom.
“We must start a proper dialogue with social media companies about the ways their platforms are being used to spread lies from abroad and undermine our democracy. And we need to do it urgently,” Thornberry emphasized.
The committee’s concerns are backed by concrete evidence. Last week, the foreign affairs select committee heard testimony that bot accounts operating from Iran were actively stoking support for Scottish independence in what appears to be an effort to destabilize the UK. According to Cyabra, a Tel Aviv-based disinformation detection company, approximately 1,300 fake profiles focused on Scottish independence, Brexit, and institutional collapse went silent following internet shutdowns in Iran amid anti-government protests.
Thornberry specifically criticized Reform UK politicians for amplifying false narratives about British cities. Last week, Reform’s mayoral candidate
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8 Comments
Tackling disinformation campaigns requires a multi-pronged approach. I hope the UK’s efforts to work with social media firms yield meaningful results in protecting its democracy.
Coordinated disinformation efforts targeting democracies are worrying. I’m curious to hear what specific policy solutions the UK is considering to address this complex challenge.
Yes, it will be interesting to see what concrete measures the UK proposes to counter foreign interference and misinformation online.
The rise of foreign-backed disinformation is a concerning trend that undermines public trust. Strengthening digital media literacy should be a priority to empower citizens.
Disinformation is a major challenge for governments worldwide. I’m glad to see the UK parliament taking it seriously and seeking to engage with social media firms on solutions.
Absolutely, transparency and collaboration between governments and tech companies will be key to curbing the spread of online falsehoods.
Concerning to hear about the ongoing disinformation campaigns targeting British democracy. Social media platforms must take more responsibility in addressing these malicious foreign influence operations.
Agreed, the UK needs to be proactive in working with tech companies to combat these threats to its democratic institutions.