Downing Street announces new unit to tackle 'fake news'

Theresa May is creating a new national security unit to counter "fake news" and disinformation spread by Russia and other foreign powers, Downing Street has announced.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the new national security communications unit would build on existing capabilities and would be tasked with "combating disinformation by state actors and others".

It comes after the Prime Minister accused Russia of meddling in elections and planting fake news in an attempt to "weaponise information" and sow discord in the West.

Her spokesman said: "We are living in an era of fake news and competing narratives. The government will respond with more and better use of national security communications to tackle these interconnected, complex challenges.

“To do this we will build on existing capabilities by creating a dedicated national security communications unit. This will be tasked with combating disinformation by state actors and others.”

He said that the unit will “more systematically deter our adversaries and help us deliver on national security priorities”, adding that there was as yet no information on where it would be based or who would staff it.

In November last year the Prime Minister launched an extraordinary attack on Russia over interference, accusing it of mounting a "sustained campaign of cyber-espionage and disruption".

She said: "“This has included meddling in elections, and hacking the Danish ministry of defence and the Bundestag [German parliament], among many others,” she told the audience of City of London business figures.

“It is seeking to weaponise information. Deploying its state-run media organisations to plant fake stories and photo-shopped images in an attempt to sow discord in the west and undermine our institutions.”

She said the UK did not want to “return to the Cold War, or to be in a state of perpetual confrontation” but the UK would have to act to protect the interests of the UK, Europe and rest