Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of the work of the Counter Disinformation Unit and (b) impact of that work on freedom of speech.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU), now called the National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT), is focused exclusively on risks to national security and public safety.
Preserving freedom of expression is an extremely important principle underpinning the team’s work. The Government believes that people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely.
The NSOIT does not monitor the social media accounts of individuals and does not take any action that could impact anyone’s ability to discuss and debate issues freely. When the NSOIT identifies content which is within one of the areas of focus ministers have agreed, is assessed to pose a risk to national security or public safety and which is assessed to breach the terms and conditions of the relevant platform it may share that content with the platform. No action is mandated by the Government, it is entirely up to the platform to determine whether or not to take any action in line with their terms of service. Under no circumstances is content from Parliamentarians or journalists ever referred to platforms. Ministers continue to keep the work of the NSOIT under review and the approach to sharing any content with platforms.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether online content flagged for removal by the Counter Disinformation Unit can include lawful expression.
Answered by Paul Scully
Preserving freedom of expression is an extremely important principle underpinning the Counter Disinformation Unit’s (CDU) work. The CDU does not monitor political debate and the CDU does not refer any content from journalists, politicians or political parties to social media platforms.
The CDU works closely with the major social media platforms to understand their terms of service and to encourage them to promote authoritative sources of information.
Where the unit encounters content which poses a demonstrable risk to public health, safety or national security and is assessed to breach the platform’s terms of service, content may be referred to the platform concerned for their consideration.
No action is mandated by the Government and it is up to the platform to independently decide whether or not to take any action in line with their terms of service.
A fact sheet providing further information on the work of the CDU can be found here.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's counter-disinformation unit on freedom of expression.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) leads HMG’s operational and policy response to understand and counter disinformation and attempts to manipulate the information environment, with the potential to impact domestic audiences. In addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and COVID-19, the CDU has considered disinformation relating to key national events such as Operation London Bridge and elections.
Freedom of expression and the media are essential qualities of any functioning democracy; people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely. The CDU’s work is consistent with the government’s principles and values on protecting freedom of expression and promoting a free, open, and secure internet.
Asked by: David Davis (Conservative - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what policy areas the Counter Disinformation Unit focuses on in addition to Covid-19 and Ukraine.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU) leads HMG’s operational and policy response to understand and counter disinformation and attempts to manipulate the information environment, with the potential to impact domestic audiences. In addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and COVID-19, the CDU has considered disinformation relating to key national events such as Operation London Bridge and elections.
Freedom of expression and the media are essential qualities of any functioning democracy; people must be allowed to discuss and debate issues freely. The CDU’s work is consistent with the government’s principles and values on protecting freedom of expression and promoting a free, open, and secure internet.