New UK agency to fight ‘information warfare’ from likes of Russia, Burnham tells UN

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced the creation of the National Centre for Information Defence, a new agency dedicated to combating disinformation and deepfakes orchestrated by hostile states, particularly Russia. Speaking at the UN, Burnham described these campaigns as an "insidious" threat that exploits social inequalities to sow division and undermine British interests. The new centre will coordinate efforts between intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and social media platforms to detect and disrupt information attacks. Burnham emphasized that AI is significantly amplifying these threats, necessitating a more proactive national defense strategy. The initiative follows recommendations from the foreign affairs select committee and aims to bolster national resilience by helping citizens identify false narratives. The UK also intends to share its defensive expertise with international allies to protect democratic processes from foreign interference as elections approach across Europe.