August 2024
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This conference focused on priorities for tackling the spread of disinformation and malicious uses of deepfakes.
It brought stakeholders and policymakers together to assess current and emerging disinformation trends in the UK amidst heightened concerns amongst policymakers and affected parties.
The conference was a timely opportunity for delegates to discuss priorities for policy in the new parliament.
In assessing the way forward, we expected those attending to draw on POST’s Disinformation: sources, spread and impact report, published in April 2024, which suggested a focus on mitigation rather than attempts to eradicate threat, with key considerations around freedom of expression, access to reliable information and regulatory agility.
Delegates assessed priorities for tackling threats of online and image-based sexual abuse, as well as the implementation of methods to protect children and consumers on online platforms. They also considered approaches to combating the use of nudification tools and disinformation linked to online hate, with Ofcom preparing for implementation of the Online Safety Act alongside their recently published draft three-year media literacy strategy.
Further discussion examined next steps for building resilience against disinformation and options for improving online detection and takedown methods, including opportunities for using AI and emerging technology to tackle threats.
Overall, sessions in the agenda looked at identifying key threats posed by the deliberate creation of false content, and the implications for news media, political stakeholders, commercial actors and wider society, as well as exploring the networks through which disinformation is disseminated.
Areas for discussion included potential attempts to influence democratic processes and amplify political divisions, the proliferation of commercial and financial disinformation for fraudulent purposes, and the wider vulnerabilities across society to the impact of false content.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Ali-Abbas Ali, Director, Media Plurality and Competition, Ofcom; Tami Hoffman, Director, News Distribution and Commercial Innovation, ITN; Simon Robinson, Executive Editor, Reuters; Dr Reza Montasari, Senior Lecturer, Cyber Threats, Criminology, Sociology and Social Policy, Swansea University; and Adriana Menezes Whiteley, Director, FT Strategies.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- assessing the landscape of disinformation: key and emerging trends - extent of the impact of disinformation on news media and wider society - proliferation on social media and online platforms
- practical priorities: distinguishing between misinformation, disinformation and fake content - identifying the spread of disinformation related to political issues and matters of national security
- key threats: attempts to influence elections and democratic processes - commercial and financial disinformation for fraudulent purposes - strategies for threat reduction and management
- tackling online harms: combating deepfakes and malicious AI uses, including nudification tools - priorities for reducing disinformation linked to online hate - tackling image-based sexual abuse
- counter-measures: strategies and processes for tackling threats - improving online detection and takedown methods of harmful content - utilisation of AI - priorities for fact and stat-checking
- young people and vulnerable groups: strategies for improving media literacy skills across society - implementation of measures to protect consumers and children on online platforms
- policy and regulation: priorities in a dynamic landscape - roles and responsibilities - collaborative approaches and frameworks - National Security Online Information Team priorities
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from ICO; DCMS; NCA; Ofcom; OSR; DWP; HMCTS; GLD; GO-Science; DESNZ; DfT; DHSC; DSIT; Defra; DoF, NI; FCDO; Education Scotland; HMRC; Home Office; MHRA; MoD; UKSA; DTCAGSM, ROI; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government - as well as a parliamentary pass-holder from the House of Lords.
The proceedings of the conference will be circulated more widely, to Parliamentarians, ministerial offices, and government and regulatory officials with an interest in the issues being discussed. All delegates will also receive a video recording of the conference.
