Andy Burnham Slams Putin Over Russian Misinformation

Andy Burnham has slammed Vladimir Putin’s “repulsive and insidious” attempts to sow division in the UK through the spread of misinformation online.

The prime minister has ordered security chiefs to set up a new unit to tackle the problem, which he said included trying to influence the 2019 general election.

A new National Centre for Information Defence will tackle online lies and deepfakes damaging British interests, the PM told the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Burnham said the UK and its allies had been subjected to an “industrial-scale assault” by hostile states, including Russia.

“Russian agencies have used every means at their disposal to spread lies and disinformation and prey on people’s fear,” he said.

“They’ve used bots and fake websites. Falsified newspaper articles. Forged the branding of 28 British organisations – including universities and the BBC. They’ve amplified far-right narratives.

“And we have evidence that they tried to interfere with the 2019 general election.

“We also know that they have tried to stoke tensions and unrest in the wake of horrific events. The idea that anyone would try to use such things to their advantage is just repulsive – but it is what they do.”

The PM said the Kremlin spends around £1.3 billion a year on “manipulating information”.

And he said the rise of artificial intelligence means the problem is only set to get worse unless it is tackled urgently.

“We’re talking about an insidious campaign that reaches into people’s homes and twists what they feel about their own country and community – creating a narrative of decline, stoking division and sowing despair,” he said.

“On top of that, we have seen cyber-attacks on our companies and institutions. And we know that AI will multiply the threat.”

Young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) are “much more vulnerable” to Russia’s campaign of online misinformation and it was now time to fight back, Burnham said.

He said: “We have tiptoed around this for too long.

“Over the last decade we have given too much ground to those who want to run a negative, corrosive narrative about life in Britain, which bears no resemblance to reality. Well, no more.

“We are going to face the new decade in a different way – with our eyes wide open.

“We are going to be much prouder in standing up for our values and the rule of law.”

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