CHINA, RUSSIA USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO FUEL PROTESTS IN UK

The disruption being caused through “Kill the Bill” protests in UK is an effort by the Sino-russian alliance to destroy trust and confidence in political and institutional systems, in a bid to leave society demoralised and feeling powerless against events. This is in the footsteps of the recent CCP infiltrations into British institutions such as universities, independent schools, vaccine producers, defence manufacturers, and even the British Consulate in Shanghai, not to mention Huawei in British telecom and the 30 CGN workers involved in Hinkley Point C, the new nuclear power station in Somerset.

The newly introduced Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2019-2021 (PCSC or The Bill) allows the police to take a more proactive approach in managing highly disruptive protests. It is being suspected that China and Russia are using social media and other means to fuel these protests against the Bill.

Both China and Russia are infamous for cyber-attacks. Last year, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned that

“Chinese linked actors are targeting super computers, communications companies and systems that allow home working, in countries around the world.” And recently the FCDO confirmed that Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU, conducted cyber reconnaissance against officials and organisations at the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games that were due to take place in Tokyo this summer. The targets included the Games’ organisers, logistics services and sponsors.

In the UK Government’s Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament Report “Russia” in 2020, the Prime Minister notes “The Kremlin has shown a willingness and ability to operate globally to undermine the West, seeking out division and intimidating those who appear isolated from the international community”. The Russia Report said conducting cyber influence is part of this policy and comments that UK cyber accountability is an “unnecessarily complicated wiring diagram of responsibilities” with five ministries having different