4th Report - Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy

Select Committee
Foreign Affairs Committee HC 703 27 March 2026
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 55 items (33 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 55 of 55 classified)
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 15
Acknowledged 4
Deferred 4
Not Addressed 21
Rejected 3
Government response
2nd Special Report - Disinformation diplomacy: How malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy: Government Response · published 8 Jun 2026
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Recommendations & Conclusions

15 results
12 Recommendation Accepted in Part
The Government should provide greater clarity on the progress made in implementing the One Hundred...
Recommendation
The Government should provide greater clarity on the progress made in implementing the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement between the UK and Ukraine, including specific information on the operation and intent of Article 7, combatting foreign information manipulation and interference. … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government commits to providing a verbal briefing session to the Committee on its international approach to countering foreign information manipulation and interference, which partially addresses the request for clarity on the UK-Ukraine Partnership Agreement.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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28 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Given the importance of combatting foreign information manipulation and interference, it is unacceptable that the...
Recommendation
Given the importance of combatting foreign information manipulation and interference, it is unacceptable that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is presently under-resourced. The Government should immediately rectify this by utilising the funds associated with the defence uplift to increase … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees with the importance of the issue, stating that it has ensured existing allocations target hybrid threats, and confirms the Hybrid Threats Directorate has been allocated a non-ODA budget for the current spending review period to enable effective action.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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29 Conclusion Accepted in Part
The need for media freedoms is greater today than it has been at any previous...
Conclusion
The need for media freedoms is greater today than it has been at any previous time. Limits are increasingly being placed on journalists which in turn endangers liberty. As funding for independent media organisations like the BBC World Service and … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, reiterating its commitment to media freedom and outlining steps such as co-chairing the Media Freedom Coalition and a new approach to Africa, while also highlighting actions like sanctions to disrupt information networks.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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30 Conclusion Accepted in Part
The Committee welcomes the announcement that the UK Government will become the new co-Chair of...
Conclusion
The Committee welcomes the announcement that the UK Government will become the new co-Chair of the Media Freedom Coalition in March 2026, following this Committee’s suggestion to Ministers. This indicates that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are serious about … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, recognising the importance of updates on media freedoms and committing to periodic verbal briefing sessions for the Committee while reviewing options for formal written reporting, in response to the cessation of previous updates.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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31 Recommendation Accepted in Part
To show its continued commitment to media freedoms, the Government should again provide to the...
Recommendation
To show its continued commitment to media freedoms, the Government should again provide to the Committee six-monthly updates, including an assessment of threats to media freedom and the UK’s response to foreign information manipulation and interference in priority regions. (Recommendation, … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, committing to periodic verbal briefings for committee members on media freedoms while reviewing options for formal written reporting, rather than the requested six-monthly updates.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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32 Recommendation Accepted in Part
The BBC World Service plays a critical role in providing life-saving information and updates during...
Recommendation
The BBC World Service plays a critical role in providing life-saving information and updates during conflict and crisis, whilst leading the global fight against disinformation and promoting democratic values. Much of the evidence received by the Committee highlights the essential … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, highlighting its increased funding for the BBC World Service to £148 million per annum. However, it notes but does not commit to further additional funding, citing defence budget rules and deferring longer-term funding considerations to the BBC Charter Review.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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33 Recommendation Accepted in Part
The Government must recognise that accurate, impartial news is essential to the UK’s national security...
Recommendation
The Government must recognise that accurate, impartial news is essential to the UK’s national security and overseas interests and should be treated by Government as a strategic national asset in an era of information warfare. At a time when the … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it has already increased BBC World Service funding to £148 million per annum, which it considers a real-terms uplift. However, it defers the recommendation for further increased funding drawn from the defence budget, citing stringent NATO rules and the ongoing BBC Charter Review.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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42 Recommendation 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 … Read more
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.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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43 Recommendation Accepted in Part
The government should launch a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the risk of...
Recommendation
The government should launch a public awareness campaign to educate citizens about the risk of foreign information manipulation and interference. This should include the measures taken and mechanisms in place to protect 91 democratic institutions. Additionally, the Foreign, Commonwealth and … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating it will continue to highlight the threat and is already pursuing media literacy initiatives like the 'You Won't Know Until You Ask' campaign, which it is considering extending or adapting. It does not commit to launching a new dedicated information portal as recommended.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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45 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Where examples would resonate with the public, the Government and the National Security Community should...
Recommendation
Where examples would resonate with the public, the Government and the National Security Community should declassify information relating to foreign information manipulation and interference. In addition, the Government should provide Parliamentarians and other key stakeholders (e.g., civil society organisations and … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, highlighting its track record of exposing and sanctioning actors involved in foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). They commit to continuing to enhance information sharing and stakeholder engagement, including briefings, and will engage with NCSC to understand best practice, while noting the need to protect sensitive information.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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47 Recommendation Accepted in Part
The Government must not overlook media literacy as part of its all-of- society approach to...
Recommendation
The Government must not overlook media literacy as part of its all-of- society approach to strengthening and securing the UK’s national security, including foreign information manipulation and interference from malign actors. The Government should seek to learn best practice from … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that media literacy is important and acknowledges the value of learning from Baltic and Nordic partners. It is evaluating its existing 'You Won't Know Until You Ask' campaign for children and considering options to extend or adapt it to address FIMI and focus on all ages.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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48 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Social media companies are a key component in tackling the dissemination of foreign information manipulation...
Conclusion
Social media companies are a key component in tackling the dissemination of foreign information manipulation and interference. It is our opinion that they are failing to tackle the threat of foreign interference on their platforms. The continued lack of algorithmic … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, acknowledging concerns about algorithms and noting Ofcom's existing powers, and commits to operationalising a legislated Researcher Access to Data Scheme through consultations and regulations later this year to provide legitimate data access to researchers.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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49 Recommendation Accepted in Part
The Government should require social media companies to publish algorithmic transparency data (logic and biases),...
Recommendation
The Government should require social media companies to publish algorithmic transparency data (logic and biases), provide legitimate data access to researchers free of charge and without cumbersome restrictions, and oblige platforms to publish an annual report on the detection of … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, noting the Online Safety Act already gives Ofcom powers to request algorithm design information. It agrees social media companies should provide legitimate data to researchers and will be consulting on how to operationalise a new Researcher Access to Data Scheme, but does not address requiring annual reports on artificial amplification and foreign interference.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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54 Conclusion Accepted in Part
We are concerned about the UK’s legislative ability to withstand the kinds of threats reported...
Conclusion
We are concerned about the UK’s legislative ability to withstand the kinds of threats reported during elections in other countries. We therefore welcome the Government’s intention to legislate to protect the integrity of the UK’s democratic processes and institutions through … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, acknowledging concerns about democratic protection, and details further actions it is taking or planning, including a consultation on digital replicas, an AI-generated content labelling taskforce, ongoing review of the Online Safety Act framework, and a moratorium on crypto asset political donations via the Representation of the People Bill.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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55 Recommendation Accepted in Part
The Government should include provisions in the Representation of the People Bill that tackle AI-generated...
Recommendation
The Government should include provisions in the Representation of the People Bill that tackle AI-generated content, the creation and dissemination of disinformation, limits on the potential abuse of social media algorithmic biasing for political advantage, and a ban on cryptoasset … Read more
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees. It will launch a consultation and establish a taskforce on AI-generated content, and acknowledges concerns about algorithms, noting the Online Safety Act's powers. However, it fully accepts and will implement a moratorium on crypto asset donations through the Representation of the People Bill.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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