Andy Burnham has announced the creation of a new national body to counter disinformation and deepfakes from hostile states such as Russia, saying the government has a duty to «stem the poisonous tide» of information warfare that damages British interests. The National Centre for Information Defence will «detect, attribute and disrupt» information attacks by foreign powers, many of which are enabled by artificial intelligence, bringing together intelligence agencies, law enforcement and social media companies.
The announcement was made at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Burnham used his address to accuse Russia of «preying on people's fear» through lies and disinformation. The centre is intended to provide a coordinated response to the growing threat of online manipulation, including deepfakes and other AI-generated content designed to mislead the public and undermine democratic processes.
According to the plans, the new agency will combine the expertise of security and intelligence services with the reach and technical capabilities of social media platforms, creating a unified front against information attacks. Its core functions — detection, attribution and disruption — suggest a focus not only on identifying false or manipulated content but also on tracing its origins and taking action to limit its spread.
The move reflects mounting concern in the UK and among allies about the use of disinformation as a geopolitical tool. Russia has repeatedly been accused of running influence operations targeting Western countries, particularly during elections and periods of international tension. The rapid development of AI tools has made such campaigns cheaper and more convincing, with deepfakes — synthetic audio and video that mimic real people — posing a particular challenge for regulators and technology companies.
Burnham framed the initiative as a necessary response to a threat that crosses borders and platforms. By establishing a dedicated national centre, the government aims to streamline efforts that are currently spread across multiple agencies and to work more closely with technology firms, which have faced criticism for failing to act quickly enough on coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
The announcement drew immediate attention at the UN gathering, where Russia's reaction to Burnham's remarks was captured on camera. While the full details of the centre's remit, funding and timeline have yet to be published, the creation of the National Centre for Information Defence signals a more assertive approach to what ministers increasingly describe as information warfare.
For the UK, the centre represents an attempt to stay ahead of adversaries who exploit the openness of digital networks. It also raises questions about how far the state should go in monitoring and countering online content, and how it will balance security measures with the protection of free expression. Those debates are likely to intensify as the centre takes shape and begins operations.