Written question asked by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour) on Thursday, 18 April 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 April 2024. It was answered by Leo Docherty (Conservative) on Friday, 26 April 2024 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Defence: Disinformation and Propaganda

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what technologies his Department is using to enhance defence against (a) cyber-propaganda and (b) misinformation campaigns.

Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) doesn’t focus on a technological solution to cyber-propaganda and misinformation campaigns because it is fundamentally a human issue rather than a technological one. There is a cross-Government effort to identify, counter and shut down sources of malign narratives and dis/misinformation, but ultimately our focus is on ensuring our people – military, civilian, and supporting industry – are resilient to it. Additionally, misinformation can be produced far faster than it can be countered and therefore providing MOD personnel with the right skills and mindset, including through regular mandatory training, is the best way to ensure we have resilience in the face of cyber-propaganda and misinformation campaigns.

Secondary information