𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Russia is acting as if it is in a “state of war” against the West and democracies such as Britain are “sitting ducks” on the information battlefield, Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has been warned. A hard-hitting report from the foreign affairs committee warns that Russia, China and Iran – as well as terrorist groups such as Daesh – seek to “sow distrust, undermine cohesion and erode confidence in democratic institutions”.

The cross-party group of MPs sounds the alarm about Russia’s determination to harm this country, stating: “Russia presents a clear and present threat to the UK, its overseas interests, and Euro-Atlantic security. The depth and intensity of hostile activity orchestrated by Russia across the West leaves us with no ambiguity. Russia’s behaviour is that of a state at war against the West, and this will not change whilst Putin is in power.”

British democracy must be defended as a “matter of urgency”, the MPs insist. They warn there is “no room for complacency” as they urge the Labour Government to “work much harder to combat disinformation”.

Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the committee, said: “I was shocked to learn just how widespread organised disinformation has become. It is the new warfare and open liberal democracies are sitting ducks. From pushing provable lies, to planting false seeds of doubt, disinformation is the weapon of choice of hostile states seeking to destabilise democracies. It seeps into societal cracks, seeking out our vulnerabilities to exploit them. It aims to undermine our sense of identity and cohesion, and even our ability to tell fact from fiction, in order to leave us divided and weakened.”

Disinformation can be spread by a hostile state’s own news outlets but also through social media and “dopplegangers” – fake news stories designed to look as if these have been published by reputable publications. The report describes how the “spamouflage”network uses fake accounts to spread pro-China messages across social media.

The report warns that Britain’s attempts to engage with China “cannot come at the cost of trading security for economic growth”. The MPs highlight the threats from Russia to former Communist states, stating they are “deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of democracy in Georgia which, on its current trajectory, will lead to an entrenched autocracy firmly under Russia’s sphere of influence, like Belarus”.

Dame Emily said it was “very disappointing” to see the Foreign Office lacked the resources to “do more” and pushed for extra cash from the planned 5% funding boost for defence and national security.

She said: “After all, if Russia is already conducting information warfare against the West, the UK must be ready to defend itself.”

Dame Emily is also concerned the BBC World Service is “being cut back” when “hostile powers are pumping out lies across the world”.

“There has never been a time when it has been more needed,” she said.

The committee calls for public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of foreign interference and wants a National Counter Disinformation Centre. It wants social media companies to be required to show the public how their algorithms work to “safeguard against manipulation”.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel said: “Keir Starmer’s approach of cosying up to hostile states such as China risks weakening Britain’s global standing. As with his Chagos surrender, it sends a message that Britain is willing to compromise its principles and neglect its allies.”

Alan Mendoza of the Henry Jackson Society foreign policy think tank said that unless action is taken to stop disinformation Britain’s “innate openness will make us susceptible to attack”.

He said: “Both education and counter-measures are needed immediately to stem the wave of lies that threatens to overwhelm us.”