UK Defence Secretary Says New Anti-Disinformation Unit Won't Target Domestic Dissent

Britain's Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said a new government unit intended to counter disinformation will not be used to target domestic political dissent, seeking to address concerns about the initiative's scope.

Speaking to GB News, Streeting said "we're not interested in policing domestic political dissent," responding to criticism that the planned National Centre for Information Defence could be used to suppress legitimate political debate rather than focus solely on external disinformation threats.

In a separate interview with the BBC's Today programme, Streeting outlined the rationale behind the new centre, saying the government needed "not just better co-ordination at the centre of government, but the better mobilisation of the whole of society" to help the public "separate fact from fiction."

Details of the National Centre for Information Defence, including its precise remit, funding and oversight structure, were still emerging as officials described the initiative. Governments in a number of countries have in recent years established or proposed similar bodies aimed at countering foreign disinformation campaigns and online manipulation, though such efforts have frequently drawn scrutiny from civil liberties groups concerned about potential overreach into free expression and political speech.

The announcement came as part of a wider discussion of the UK government's approach to national security and information integrity. Further details on how the centre will operate, and what safeguards will govern its work, are expected to be set out as the plans develop.