UK unveils plan to counter Russian disinformation and lead global AI safety standards

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to create a new centre to combat hostile state disinformation, including from Russia, and to lead efforts for global AI safety standards in his first major UN speech. Burnham accused Russia of spending £1.3 billion annually on manipulation using bots and fake websites, warning that AI will multiply existing threats. He pitched the UK as an "honest broker" to establish global principles for AI transparency and safety. The new National Centre for Information Defence will work with intelligence agencies and social media platforms. Burnham pledged to make AI central to the UK's G20 Presidency, though the US and China have not backed a recent international AI declaration.