Story perspectives

UK PM Launches National Centre to Counter Info Attacks

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 3:20 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a National Centre for Information Defence to counter hostile state information attacks.
Burnham said Russian agencies spend about £1.3 billion each year manipulating information.
The centre will unite intelligence agencies, law-enforcement and social-media firms to detect, attribute and disrupt attacks.
Opposition figures, including Nigel Farage, warned the plan could become a “Ministry of Information” limiting free speech.

History

Historical Context

In 1939 Britain formed the Ministry of Information, placing wartime propaganda under Lord Macmillan and later Brendan Bracken, who managed about 2,000 staff and a £5 million budget by 1942. The agency recalled WWI efforts such as Wellington House. Andy Burnham’s proposal for a Centre for Information Defence now revives that model, while Nigel Farage warns it could become a new state-run narrative.

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Story summary

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a National Centre for Information Defence to counter hostile state information attacks.
Burnham said Russian agencies spend about £1.3 billion each year manipulating information.
The centre will unite intelligence agencies, law-enforcement and social-media firms to detect, attribute and disrupt attacks.
Opposition figures, including Nigel Farage, warned the plan could become a “Ministry of Information” limiting free speech.

1 / 2