UK PM at UN: Russia weaponises disinformation and people's fears

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham accused Russia of spreading lies and disinformation during his first address to the UN General Assembly, warning that artificial intelligence will increase the likelihood of disinformation being used as a weapon. Burnham proposed that Britain lead international efforts to counter this threat, citing its experience in defending its democracy from interference. He said Russian intelligence services used bots and fake websites to spread falsehoods, exploit fears, amplify far-right narratives, and attempt to interfere in the 2019 general election. Burnham stated the Kremlin spends £1.3 billion annually on information manipulation. The speech follows recent tensions, including charges against a man allegedly acting for Russia and Moscow's threats over British weapons supplied to Ukraine.