UK says to strengthen internet laws to fight Russian disinformation

British Lifestyle Secretary Nadine Dorries arrives at Downing Street, in London, Britain June 21, 2022. REUTERS/John Sibley/File Picture

LONDON, July 4 (Reuters) – Britain is proposing a new legislation that will call for social media businesses to proactively deal with disinformation posted by foreign states such as Russia, the governing administration claimed on Monday.

The law would tackle pretend accounts on platforms these as Meta’s (META.O)Facebook and Twitter (TWTR.N)that had been established up on behalf of foreign states to influence elections or court proceedings, the govt claimed.

The legislation is probable to be handed all through this parliamentary session by means of an modification to connection the National Safety Bill and On-line Safety Bill, equally of which are in the government’s present programme. read additional

Communications regulator Ofcom will draw up codes of follow to enable social media providers comply with the law, and will have the electrical power to concern fines for infringement.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries explained on Monday the invasion of Ukraine has shown how Russia makes use of social media to spread lies about its actions.

“We cannot allow for foreign states or their puppets to use the world wide web to perform hostile on the net warfare unimpeded,” she reported. “That is why we are strengthening our new net protection protections to make confident social media firms determine and root out point out-backed disinformation.”

Reporting by Paul Sandle Modifying by Josie Kao

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