Recommendations & Conclusions
15 items
12
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The Government should provide greater clarity on the progress made in implementing the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement between the UK and Ukraine, including specific information on the operation and intent of Article 7, combatting foreign information manipulation and interference. It should also set out what discussions, if any, have …
Read more
The Government should provide greater clarity on the progress made in implementing the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement between the UK and Ukraine, including specific information on the operation and intent of Article 7, combatting foreign information manipulation and interference. It should also set out what discussions, if any, have taken place with Ukraine regarding potential amendments to the Agreement in the event that a peace settlement with Russia is reached. (Recommendation, Paragraph 76)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government commits to providing a verbal briefing session to the Committee on its international approach to countering foreign information manipulation and interference, which partially addresses the request for clarity on the UK-Ukraine Partnership Agreement.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
28
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
Given the importance of combatting foreign information manipulation and interference, it is unacceptable that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is presently under-resourced. The Government should immediately rectify this by utilising the funds associated with the defence uplift to increase funding and staffing within the newly formed Hybrid Threats Directorate. …
Read more
Given the importance of combatting foreign information manipulation and interference, it is unacceptable that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is presently under-resourced. The Government should immediately rectify this by utilising the funds associated with the defence uplift to increase funding and staffing within the newly formed Hybrid Threats Directorate. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office must have the necessary resources to ensure their critical work can be conducted across all regions of interest and take forward this ministerial priority. (Recommendation, Paragraph 142)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees with the importance of the issue, stating that it has ensured existing allocations target hybrid threats, and confirms the Hybrid Threats Directorate has been allocated a non-ODA budget for the current spending review period to enable effective action.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
29
Conclusion
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The need for media freedoms is greater today than it has been at any previous time. Limits are increasingly being placed on journalists which in turn endangers liberty. As funding for independent media organisations like the BBC World Service and Radio Free Europe are reduced, it is imperative that the …
Read more
The need for media freedoms is greater today than it has been at any previous time. Limits are increasingly being placed on journalists which in turn endangers liberty. As funding for independent media organisations like the BBC World Service and Radio Free Europe are reduced, it is imperative that the democratic international community moves away from mere rhetoric and instead demonstrates meaningful defence of media freedoms. (Conclusion, Paragraph 147)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, reiterating its commitment to media freedom and outlining steps such as co-chairing the Media Freedom Coalition and a new approach to Africa, while also highlighting actions like sanctions to disrupt information networks.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
30
Conclusion
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The Committee welcomes the announcement that the UK Government will become the new co-Chair of the Media Freedom Coalition in March 2026, following this Committee’s suggestion to Ministers. This indicates that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are serious about protecting media freedoms. However, under previous Governments, the 88 Foreign, …
Read more
The Committee welcomes the announcement that the UK Government will become the new co-Chair of the Media Freedom Coalition in March 2026, following this Committee’s suggestion to Ministers. This indicates that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are serious about protecting media freedoms. However, under previous Governments, the 88 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office committed to providing six-monthly updates to this Committee on its work on media freedoms. These have now stopped. (Conclusion, Paragraph 148)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, recognising the importance of updates on media freedoms and committing to periodic verbal briefing sessions for the Committee while reviewing options for formal written reporting, in response to the cessation of previous updates.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
31
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
To show its continued commitment to media freedoms, the Government should again provide to the Committee six-monthly updates, including an assessment of threats to media freedom and the UK’s response to foreign information manipulation and interference in priority regions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 149) BBC World Service
Read more
To show its continued commitment to media freedoms, the Government should again provide to the Committee six-monthly updates, including an assessment of threats to media freedom and the UK’s response to foreign information manipulation and interference in priority regions. (Recommendation, Paragraph 149) BBC World Service
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, committing to periodic verbal briefings for committee members on media freedoms while reviewing options for formal written reporting, rather than the requested six-monthly updates.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
32
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The BBC World Service plays a critical role in providing life-saving information and updates during conflict and crisis, whilst leading the global fight against disinformation and promoting democratic values. Much of the evidence received by the Committee highlights the essential role of the BBC World Service and calls on the …
Read more
The BBC World Service plays a critical role in providing life-saving information and updates during conflict and crisis, whilst leading the global fight against disinformation and promoting democratic values. Much of the evidence received by the Committee highlights the essential role of the BBC World Service and calls on the Government to ensure its continued functions through increased funding. We welcome the Government’s announcement that it will increase funding of the BBC World Service by an additional £11 million per year for the next three years. It is essential that the BBC World Service is provided with the necessary funding to ensure it continues to tackle the threat of disinformation by providing independent, impartial journalism to a global audience. (Conclusion, Paragraph 159)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, highlighting its increased funding for the BBC World Service to £148 million per annum. However, it notes but does not commit to further additional funding, citing defence budget rules and deferring longer-term funding considerations to the BBC Charter Review.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
33
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The Government must recognise that accurate, impartial news is essential to the UK’s national security and overseas interests and should be treated by Government as a strategic national asset in an era of information warfare. At a time when the UK is reducing its Official Development Assistance and disinformation is …
Read more
The Government must recognise that accurate, impartial news is essential to the UK’s national security and overseas interests and should be treated by Government as a strategic national asset in an era of information warfare. At a time when the UK is reducing its Official Development Assistance and disinformation is spreading globally, the BBC World Service, is widely regarded as the world’s most trusted international broadcaster. Whilst we welcome the additional funding being provided by the Government over the next three years, this is nominal increase but due to inflation is likely to be a flat settlement. Therefore, the Government should provide the BBC World Service with a further increased funding settlement, drawn in part from the defence budget, so it can plan, invest, and deliver its services effectively. It should also be made clear that funding from the Ministry of Defence would be provided with appropriate safeguards and commitments to ensure that the BBC World Service is able to continue to operate independent of Government. If the BBC World Service does not receive the funding it needs, it will continue to contract with a diminishing influence. Its loss would significantly diminish the UK’s soft power and undermine our ability to counter information warfare. (Recommendation, Paragraph 160) 89
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating it has already increased BBC World Service funding to £148 million per annum, which it considers a real-terms uplift. However, it defers the recommendation for further increased funding drawn from the defence budget, citing stringent NATO rules and the ongoing …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
42
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
There is an apparent lack of public awareness about disinformation campaigns from foreign malign actors. By exposing the broader public to the threat of malicious content the Government can inoculate the target audience from the threat of disinformation. Public awareness campaigns are an easily accessible method for the government to …
Read more
There is an apparent lack of public awareness about disinformation campaigns from foreign malign actors. By exposing the broader public to the threat of malicious content the Government can inoculate the target audience from the threat of disinformation. Public awareness campaigns are an easily accessible method for the government to spread reliable information across multiple channels and are under-utilised by the Government at present. It was suggested that publicising disinformation campaigns might do the malign actors’ jobs for them and undermine confidence in essential democratic institutions and processes. If these campaigns posed no danger to our democracy and it can be said with complete confidence that these campaigns have no effect on public opinion, then we would have some sympathy with this approach. However, our experience tells us that we cannot afford to be complacent. To defeat this hybrid warfare we must enlist the public and empower them with the necessary tools to identify disinformation and make their own informed decisions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 187)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees on the importance of public awareness, stating it will continue to highlight the threat via gov.uk and is considering adapting its existing "You Won’t Know Until You Ask" media literacy campaign to address foreign information manipulation and interference.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
43
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The government should launch a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the risk of foreign information manipulation and interference. This should include the measures taken and mechanisms in place to protect 91 democratic institutions. Additionally, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office should launch a publicly accessible information portal to …
Read more
The government should launch a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the risk of foreign information manipulation and interference. This should include the measures taken and mechanisms in place to protect 91 democratic institutions. Additionally, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office should launch a publicly accessible information portal to document the scale and aims of disinformation campaigns, similar to the European External Action Services’ highly-effective EUvsDisinfo resource. (Recommendation, Paragraph 188)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, stating it will continue to highlight the threat and is already pursuing media literacy initiatives like the 'You Won't Know Until You Ask' campaign, which it is considering extending or adapting. It does not commit to launching a new dedicated information …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
45
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
Where examples would resonate with the public, the Government and the National Security Community should declassify information relating to foreign information manipulation and interference. In addition, the Government should provide Parliamentarians and other key stakeholders (e.g., civil society organisations and media organisations) with regular briefings on their work to combat …
Read more
Where examples would resonate with the public, the Government and the National Security Community should declassify information relating to foreign information manipulation and interference. In addition, the Government should provide Parliamentarians and other key stakeholders (e.g., civil society organisations and media organisations) with regular briefings on their work to combat foreign information manipulation and interference as well as training to identify and report disinformation campaigns. This should mirror the offerings provided by the National Cyber Security Centre for cyber security and resilience. (Recommendation, Paragraph 190) Media literacy
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, highlighting its track record of exposing and sanctioning actors involved in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). They commit to continuing to enhance information sharing and stakeholder engagement, including briefings, and will engage with NCSC to understand best practice, while noting …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
47
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The Government must not overlook media literacy as part of its all-of- society approach to strengthening and securing the UK’s national security, including foreign information manipulation and interference from malign actors. The Government should seek to learn best practice from Baltic and Nordic countries and apply them to the UK, …
Read more
The Government must not overlook media literacy as part of its all-of- society approach to strengthening and securing the UK’s national security, including foreign information manipulation and interference from malign actors. The Government should seek to learn best practice from Baltic and Nordic countries and apply them to the UK, ensuring its approach focuses on all ages, not just the under-16s. (Recommendation, Paragraph 200) 92
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government agrees that media literacy is important and acknowledges the value of learning from Baltic and Nordic partners. It is evaluating its existing 'You Won't Know Until You Ask' campaign for children and considering options to extend or adapt it to address FIMI and …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
48
Conclusion
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
Social media companies are a key component in tackling the dissemination of foreign information manipulation and interference. It is our opinion that they are failing to tackle the threat of foreign interference on their platforms. The continued lack of algorithmic transparency by social media companies is restricting legitimate access by …
Read more
Social media companies are a key component in tackling the dissemination of foreign information manipulation and interference. It is our opinion that they are failing to tackle the threat of foreign interference on their platforms. The continued lack of algorithmic transparency by social media companies is restricting legitimate access by policymakers, academics and civil society who are seeking to examine how their content ranking systems are designed and potentially abused by malign actors posting controversial and incendiary content. This is not about policing content, but the design and processes used by online platforms to retain the engagement of users and its vulnerability to abuse. (Conclusion, Paragraph 215)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, acknowledging concerns about algorithms and noting Ofcom's existing powers, and commits to operationalising a legislated Researcher Access to Data Scheme through consultations and regulations later this year to provide legitimate data access to researchers.
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
49
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The Government should require social media companies to publish algorithmic transparency data (logic and biases), provide legitimate data access to researchers free of charge and without cumbersome restrictions, and oblige platforms to publish an annual report on the detection of artificial amplification and foreign interference and the subsequent actions taken …
Read more
The Government should require social media companies to publish algorithmic transparency data (logic and biases), provide legitimate data access to researchers free of charge and without cumbersome restrictions, and oblige platforms to publish an annual report on the detection of artificial amplification and foreign interference and the subsequent actions taken to remove such content. (Recommendation, Paragraph 216)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, noting the Online Safety Act already gives Ofcom powers to request algorithm design information. It agrees social media companies should provide legitimate data to researchers and will be consulting on how to operationalise a new Researcher Access to Data Scheme, but …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
54
Conclusion
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
We are concerned about the UK’s legislative ability to withstand the kinds of threats reported during elections in other countries. We therefore welcome the Government’s intention to legislate to protect the integrity of the UK’s democratic processes and institutions through the Representation of the People Bill, but it does not …
Read more
We are concerned about the UK’s legislative ability to withstand the kinds of threats reported during elections in other countries. We therefore welcome the Government’s intention to legislate to protect the integrity of the UK’s democratic processes and institutions through the Representation of the People Bill, but it does not go far enough to safeguard future elections. (Conclusion, Paragraph 238)
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees, acknowledging concerns about democratic protection, and details further actions it is taking or planning, including a consultation on digital replicas, an AI-generated content labelling taskforce, ongoing review of the Online Safety Act framework, and a moratorium on crypto asset political donations …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
55
Recommendation
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: …
Accepted in Part
The Government should include provisions in the Representation of the People Bill that tackle AI-generated content, the creation and dissemination of disinformation, limits on the potential abuse of social media algorithmic biasing for political advantage, and a ban on cryptoasset donations to political parties. (Recommendation, Paragraph 239) 94
Read more
The Government should include provisions in the Representation of the People Bill that tackle AI-generated content, the creation and dissemination of disinformation, limits on the potential abuse of social media algorithmic biasing for political advantage, and a ban on cryptoasset donations to political parties. (Recommendation, Paragraph 239) 94
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government partially agrees. It will launch a consultation and establish a taskforce on AI-generated content, and acknowledges concerns about algorithms, noting the Online Safety Act's powers. However, it fully accepts and will implement a moratorium on crypto asset donations through the Representation of the …
Read full response →
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office