Legislation to shield internet users from state-backed disinformation

Changes to the Online Safety Bill mean tech firms will be required to shield internet users from state-sponsored disinformation and minimise people's exposure to "hostile online warfare" that poses a threat to UK society and democracy.

Under the updated legislation, social media platforms, video streaming services and search engines will be required to take action to minimise people's contact with foreign state-backed disinformation aimed at interfering with the UK. This would include for example, the video of the prank call between Ben Wallace and hoaxers pretending to be the Ukrainian prime minister. A Russian duo claimed responsibility for the call. It was suspected they had links to Russian security services, but they denied this.

Talking about the legislation, culture secretary Nadine Dorries said "the Ukraine invasion had underlined Russia’s willingness to use social media to spread lies and disinformation,

“We cannot allow foreign states or their puppets to use the internet to conduct hostile online warfare unimpeded,”

“That’s why we are strengthening our new internet safety protections to make sure social media firms identify and root out state-backed disinformation.”

The amendment is to be added to the national security bill, which is set to face parliamentary scrutiny next week by a committee of MPs and is expected to pass into law later this year. The current bill already requires tech firms to take action against state-sponsored disinformation that harms individuals, such as death threats.

The bill includes other priority offences, such as terrorism, child sexual abuse and fraud, which tech firms are required to proactively prevent. Those breaching the act could face punishment by Ofcom, which could include fines up to £18m or 10 per cent of the company's global turnover.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee is also proposing changes to the bill that would limit the influence of the culture secretary in writing new rules for tech firms. The proposed amendments would also remove the culture secretary's right to block or direct Ofcom from issuing codes of practice, including on dealing with terrorist content, before parliament considers them.

A DCMS spokesperson said: “Technology is changing rapidly and while the bill will maintain Ofcom’s independence it gives democratically elected governments and parliament appropriate oversight to address any issues that fall outside Ofcom’s remit in the future.”