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The United Kingdom is preparing to establish a new centre dedicated to combating hostile state attacks, particularly Russian disinformation, and to spearhead efforts aimed at setting global safety standards for artificial intelligence, Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, Burnham highlighted the extensive use of various tactics by Russian agencies, including bots and fraudulent websites, to disseminate misinformation. He emphasized that artificial intelligence could exacerbate existing threats and positioned the UK as a neutral and trustworthy mediator in technology governance.
Burnham detailed the scale of Russia’s disinformation operations, stating, “The Kremlin spends around £1.3 billion each year on manipulating information.” He condemned the use of fake news outlets, falsified articles, and forged branding of British institutions, describing the campaign as “insidious,” aimed at sowing division and eroding confidence within the UK. He also cited instances of cyberattacks targeting British companies and institutions and warned that AI’s advancement would further amplify these dangers. The Prime Minister recalled the 2019 UK general election, noting that the government had previously indicated Russian attempts at interference.
In response to these ongoing challenges, Burnham unveiled plans for a National Centre for Information Defence. This new body will collaborate closely with intelligence agencies, government departments, law enforcement, and social media platforms to coordinate expertise against the threat of “information warfare” fueled by AI-enabled disinformation. At the time of his speech, representatives from Russia were present but did not respond; however, historically, Moscow has dismissed accusations of interference as “Russophobia.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had previously accused Western media of harboring anti-Russian biases during a forum on disinformation in Moscow.
Addressing AI regulation, Burnham characterized advanced “Frontier AI” as both “one of the most significant challenges and opportunities of our age.” He underscored AI’s potential to drive economic growth while simultaneously increasing risks. Highlighting the UK’s “world-leading” AI Security Institute, established under former Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Burnham outlined plans to make AI a focal issue during the UK’s upcoming G20 Presidency. He pledged to promote the adoption of international principles to ensure transparency, safe development, and human control over AI systems. Although a recent declaration calling for mandatory pre-release testing and human oversight of AI has garnered support from over 20 countries, key players such as the US, China, and the UK have yet to formally endorse it.
Former cabinet minister Darren Jones urged the UK government to sign the declaration and take a leadership role in negotiating implementation with the US, emphasizing the necessity of mandatory testing that balances safety and competitiveness. Currently, the UK AI Security Institute’s model testing is voluntary, with some companies, like Anthropic, declining participation. Officials from Downing Street have stressed the government’s expectation for “full and total visibility of model developments,” and Burnham acknowledged that legislation remains a possibility to protect the public unless voluntary commitments prove sufficient. In parallel, the UK and US have launched a partnership focused on leveraging AI to safeguard critical national infrastructure.
Political pressure for stronger AI safety measures has also come from opposition parties such as the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party. Nevertheless, international regulatory progress depends heavily on cooperation from major AI developers like the US and China. In his separate address to the UN, US President Donald Trump firmly rejected calls for a global regulatory framework for AI, calling such efforts “a hoax” and affirming that the US would “encourage it, not rein it in.” Although Trump and Burnham met earlier in the day, official statements did not confirm discussions about AI during their meeting
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