Britain23 September, 20262 min read
Andy Burnham Announces National Centre To Counter Russian Disinformation And Set Global AI Safety Standards
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UK to set up centre to stem hostile-state disinformation, including Russia UK and US announce alliance to deepen AI defense cooperation protecting critical infrastructure
Burnham targets disinformation
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the United Nations General Assembly that Britain would set up a new centre to "stem the poisonous tide" of hostile state attacks, including Russian disinformation, and lead efforts to establish global safety standards for artificial intelligence. Burnham said the "Kremlin spends around £1.3 billion each year on manipulating information," and he accused Russian agencies of using "bots and fake websites" to "spread lies and disinformation".
Burnham announced a new National Centre for Information Defence to detect and disrupt AI-enabled disinformation campaigns by hostile states, and he said the centre would work alongside intelligence agencies, government departments, law enforcement and social media. Burnham framed AI as a "multiplier of risk" while also pitching the UK as an "honest broker" on the technology, with close ties to the US and the European Union.
Global AI standards push
Burnham told the United Nations that Britain was ready to lead an international effort to establish AI standards, warning that the technology could outpace safeguards and pose mounting national security risks. Burnham said, "We've all heard the warnings – which we must heed," and he added, "So we have to rise to this moment."
Burnham pledged to put AI "at the heart of the UK's G20 Presidency next year" and said the UK would work towards agreeing a set of global principles and standards to ensure transparency, access to AI models, and safe development. Burnham said the declaration supporting mandatory pre-release testing of frontier models has the support of more than 20 countries, but it has not been signed by the US and China, which dominate AI development, or the UK.
UK, US alliance and risks
Burnham announced a new alliance with the United States to deepen cooperation in artificial intelligence applied to defense, with a Rapid AI Delivery Working Group linking British capability with the US Department of Defense’s AI and Digital Technology office. Burnham said the objective was to accelerate the development of AI tools compatible between the two countries and applied to security tasks, focusing on early detection of threats and protection of strategic assets including maritime routes and airspace.
Burnham also justified the collaboration by saying AI "will be a vital tool to keep us safe," while the Swissinfo account said Britain’s health infrastructure had been targeted by large-scale cyberattacks affecting dozens of hospitals in 2017 and 2024. Burnham repeatedly criticized Russia in his speech, accusing it of being behind disinformation campaigns in the United Kingdom, and he said the UK would work with intelligence services, security forces, and social media companies to identify and obstruct information operations by hostile states.