Sophie Williams-Dunning Reacts to the Prime Minister's Pledge to Establish a National Centre for Information Defence

'A centre with the job of detecting, attributing and disrupting foreign information operations, and pulling together intelligence, law enforcement and government departments that haven’t always coordinated well, is a sensible response.'

'The new National Centre for Information Defence is a welcome, if overdue, step towards the UK mounting a more strategic response to foreign information warfare in the age of social media and AI.'

'Despite having a legal basis for countering foreign malign interference under the National Security Act 2023, the UK’s response has been lacking to date, especially when compared to those of countries like France, Sweden, Ukraine and Taiwan, which already have dedicated agencies or centres for information defence. A centre with the job of detecting, attributing and disrupting foreign information operations, and pulling together intelligence, law enforcement and government departments that haven’t always coordinated well, is a sensible response.'

'Challenges will no doubt emerge. This announcement will stoke debate about free speech and the right level of government intervention – and genuine free-speech concerns will also be weaponised and amplified by the same inauthentic or malign networks that the new agency seeks to combat. Burnham and his advisers will need to emphasise the legal basis and justification for this centre, including answering the question of whether it will remain under the Cabinet Office or eventually become a dedicated executive agency accountable to Parliament.'

'Maintaining good relationships with social media platforms will also be key. This has become trickier under the current US administration – indeed, President Trump has himself presided over the dismantling of equivalent American anti-interference units and taskforces. Burnham’s decision to make this announcement at the UN is striking in this regard.'

'The new Centre will need to maintain effective relationships across government, and with industry, civil society and international partners to be truly effective, while clearly articulating the mandate for its existence to the British public.'

Sophie Williams-Dunning is a Research Analyst in RUSI's Cyber and Tech team, specialising in the evolution of hostile state threats in cyberspace and information operations, as well as UK cyber strategy and defence-tech innovation.