UK to launch National Centre for Information Defence to counter disinformation

London – The UK government will establish a National Centre for Information Defence to counter disinformation and deep‑fake content generated by hostile states, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Thursday. Citing a “poisonous tide” of false narratives that threaten British interests, the Prime Minister said the centre will be tasked with detecting, attributing and disrupting information attacks, many of which are amplified by artificial‑intelligence tools.

The new centre will bring together intelligence agencies, law‑enforcement bodies and major social‑media platforms to coordinate a unified response to foreign‑state propaganda, including campaigns attributed to Russia. By pooling expertise and resources, officials aim to safeguard the public discourse and protect national security from the growing threat posed by AI‑driven misinformation. The initiative is expected to become operational later this year.