42
Accepted in Part
There is an apparent lack of public awareness about disinformation campaigns from foreign malign actors.
Recommendation
There is an apparent lack of public awareness about disinformation campaigns from foreign malign actors. By exposing the broader public to the threat of malicious content the Government can inoculate the target audience from the threat of disinformation. Public awareness campaigns are an easily accessible method for the government to spread reliable information across multiple channels and are under-utilised by the Government at present. It was suggested that publicising disinformation campaigns might do the malign actors’ jobs for them and undermine confidence in essential democratic institutions and processes. If these campaigns posed no danger to our democracy and it can be said with complete confidence that these campaigns have no effect on public opinion, then we would have some sympathy with this approach. However, our experience tells us that we cannot afford to be complacent. To defeat this hybrid warfare we must enlist the public and empower them with the necessary tools to identify disinformation and make their own informed decisions. (Conclusion, Paragraph 187)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees on the importance of public awareness, stating it will continue to highlight the threat via gov.uk and is considering adapting its existing "You Won’t Know Until You Ask" media literacy campaign to address foreign information manipulation and interference.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Partially agree. We agree that increasing public understanding and awareness of the nature of the threats plays an important role in building societal understanding of and resilience to the threat of FIMI, including disinformation. We will continue to highlight the nature of the threat, including through the publication of information on the gov.uk website about UK action to counter FIMI. To date, FCDO has published on gov.uk its action to counter FIMI including exposing the threat from Russia, Russian attempts to subvert democratic processes in Moldova, and the activity, and sanctioning, of several individuals and entities conducting FIMI in the UK and Europe. Alongside awareness raising on the risks of foreign information manipulation and interference we are pursuing media literacy initiatives as these are also critical to building societal resilience to mis- and disinformation. The government’s ‘You Won’t Know Until You Ask’ campaign promotes the core media literacy skills and behaviours which are effective regardless of whether content is foreign-backed or domestically generated. We are considering options to extend or adapt the campaign, including whether it could address FIMI.
Source
Committee
Foreign Affairs Committee
Report
4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy
27 Mar 2026
HC 703
Addressee Bodies
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
27 Mar 2026