Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 January 2026

Letter to the Head of Government Affairs (UK and Ireland) at X, relating to the disinformation diplomacy inquiry, dated 14 January

From: Foreign Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy

Summary

The Foreign Affairs Committee invites Niamh McDade, Head of Government Affairs (UK and Ireland) at X, to give public evidence on 2 February 2026 regarding social media platforms and coordinated inauthentic behaviour as part of the committee's inquiry into foreign information manipulation and interference targeting the UK. Similar invitations have been issued to Meta and TikTok.

Key findings

  • The Foreign Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry into foreign information manipulation and interference targeting the UK and its overseas interests
  • Expert evidence gathered throughout the inquiry highlights the role of social media platforms and their potential abuse by malign actors through coordinated inauthentic behaviour
  • There are increasing global concerns about foreign interference in democratic processes and institutions
  • X is being invited to provide public oral evidence alongside Meta and TikTok representatives

Tone

Procedural

Topics

disinformationforeign-interferencesocial-mediacybersecuritydemocracy

Key actors

Niamh McDade, Dame Emily Thornberry MP, Foreign Affairs Committee, X, Meta, TikTok

Notable line

Many have highlighted the role of social media platforms and their potential abuse by malign actors through coordinated inauthentic behaviour.

Key Quotes

… we are inviting you to give public evidence to the Foreign Affairs ~ommittee on the topic of social media platforms and coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
Dame Emily Thornberry MP · formal invitation to provide testimony
Throughout this inquiry, we have gathered evidence from a wide range of experts on the impact of foreign interference on democracies.
Dame Emily Thornberry MP · describing the inquiry's evidence-gathering process
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗

Letter to the Head of Government Affairs (UK and Ireland) at X, relating to the disinformation diplomacy inquiry, dated 14 January | Beyond The Vote | Beyond The Vote