Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether (a) her Department and (b) Ofcom has made an assessment of the potential implications for its polices on foreign interference online of the potential use of the animated television series Masha and the Bear as a vehicle for Russian propaganda.

Government takes the threat of foreign interference seriously and works across departments, intelligence partners and regulators to identify and respond to state-linked information threats. However, it is not this department’s function to routinely assess individual television series. We work closely with other departments, including the Home Office and FCDO, to respond to existing and emerging threats.

Ofcom is the independent communications regulator, and any assessment of compliance with relevant broadcasting requirements is a matter for Ofcom.