Committee publication · Correspondence · 28 January 2026
Correspondence with the Minister for AI and Online Safety, DSIT, relating to disinformation, dated 16 January and 07 January
From: Foreign Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy
Summary
DSIT's Minister for AI and Online Safety responds to the Foreign Affairs Committee's concerns about disinformation threats to UK democracy. The government confirms the Online Safety Act is central to its legislative response, with platforms now required to take systematic action against foreign interference and election-related illegal content. DSIT also operates the National Security Online Information Team to monitor information threats and coordinates cross-government efforts through the Defending Democracy Taskforce.
Key findings
- The Online Safety Act requires Category 1 platforms to proactively identify and minimise user exposure to state-linked disinformation and foreign interference, with these duties enforced from March 2025.
- DSIT's National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) conducts open-source monitoring to identify threats to UK democratic processes and may refer harmful narratives to platforms for action.
- The government takes a multi-faceted approach combining legislative action, industry engagement, and cross-government coordination through the Defending Democracy Taskforce and Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit.
- Media literacy is identified as essential for long-term resilience, with DSIT funding community interventions and launching a pilot awareness campaign on digital resilience.
- DSIT engages directly with major social media platforms (X, YouTube, TikTok) ahead of elections and coordinates with FCDO on international information threats, including Russian state-backed operations.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Kanishka Narayan MP (Minister for AI and Online Safety, DSIT), Dame Emily Thornberry MP (Chair, Foreign Affairs Committee), Minister Doughty (DSIT), Ofcom, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), Defending Democracy Taskforce, Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit
Notable line
“There is no silver bullet to tackling this issue, and it cannot be addressed by a single strategy or sector alone.”
Key Quotes
“… the Government recognises and is concerned by the persistent and growing threat disinformation poses to our democracy. It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect our democratic processes.”
“There is no silver bullet to tackling this issue, and it cannot be addressed by a single strategy or sector alone.”
“The Foreign Interference Offence is a (new) priority offence under the Act, requiring companies to take systemic action against state-sponsored disinformation and state-linked interference.”
“We have been clear that these laws are the foundation for safer online world, not the end of the conversation …”
“Improved media literacy builds resilience to mis- and disinformation, fosters critical thinking and promotes respectful online behaviour.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗