UK PM Burnham announces centre to counter Russian disinformation and AI threats

September 23, 2026 at 06:08 AM2 min

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UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a new National Centre for Information Defence to counter Russian disinformation and AI-enabled threats. He accused Russia of spending £1.3bn annually on information manipulation and using bots, fake websites, and forged branding of 28 British organisations. Burnham also pledged UK leadership in establishing global AI safety standards.

Key Facts

The UK will establish a National Centre for Information Defence to detect and disrupt AI-enabled disinformation campaigns by hostile states.
Burnham said the Kremlin spends around £1.3bn each year on manipulating information.
Russian agencies forged the branding of 28 British organisations, including universities and the BBC, according to Burnham.
Burnham described advanced 'Frontier AI' as 'one of the most significant challenges and opportunities of our age'.

The Announcement

Prime Minister Andy Burnham made the announcement during his first major international speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The new National Centre for Information Defence will work alongside intelligence agencies, government departments, law enforcement, and social media platforms. Burnham said the centre would bring together expertise to combat 'information warfare'.

Russian Disinformation Campaign

Burnham accused Russia of running an insidious disinformation campaign that reaches into people's homes and twists their feelings about their own country. He said Russian agencies used bots, fake websites, and falsified newspaper articles, and forged the branding of 28 British organisations including universities and the BBC. The prime minister also cited cyber-attacks on British companies and institutions. A Russian representative was present in the room during Burnham's speech, but there was no immediate comment from Russia.

AI Safety Standards

Burnham pitched the UK as an 'honest broker' on artificial intelligence and said the country would lead efforts to establish global safety standards. He told world leaders that AI would be 'key to economic growth' but also a 'multiplier of risk'. Since taking power in July, Burnham's government has stressed the need for international cooperation to combat AI risks and harness potential benefits.