New unit aims to stop Russian ‘fake news’

THERESA MAY is creating a new national security unit to counter “fake news” and disinformation spread by Russia and other foreign powers, Downing Street announced.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the new national security communications unit would build on existing capabilities and would “combat disinformation by state actors and others”.

It comes after Mrs May accused Russia of meddling in elections and planting fake news in an attempt to “weaponise information” and sow discord in the West.

Her spokesman said: “We are living in an era of fake news and competing narratives.

“The Government will respond with more and better use of national security communications to tackle these interconnected, complex challenges. To do this we will build on existing capabilities by creating a dedicated national security communications unit. This will be tasked with combating disinformation by state actors and others.”

He said that the unit would “more systematically deter our adversaries and help us deliver on national security priorities”, adding that there was as yet no information on where it would be based or who would staff it.

In Nov 2017, Mrs May launched an attack on Russia over interference, accusing it of mounting a “sustained campaign of cyber-espionage and disruption”.

She said: “This has included meddling in elections, and hacking the Danish ministry of defence and the Bundestag.”

She added that the UK did not want to “return to the Cold War, or to be in a state of perpetual confrontation” but the UK would have to act to protect its interests as well as those of Europe and rest of the world if Russia continues on its current path.