UK to Launch New Centre to Fight Fake News from Russia
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The UK government is creating a new centre to fight fake news and false information from other countries, Andy Burnham has announced.
The new group is called the National Centre for Information Defence. It will focus on disinformation and deepfakes spread by hostile states, especially Russia. Disinformation is information that is false and shared on purpose to trick people.
Deepfakes are fake videos, pictures, or sound recordings that are made using computer technology. They can look very real, even though the event never happened.
Burnham spoke about the plan at the United Nations. He said Britain has a duty to 'stem the poisonous tide' of disinformation. This phrase means the government must stop a large and constant flow of harmful lies.
He explained that hostile states use information warfare to damage British interests. Information warfare means using false or misleading information as a weapon, instead of using physical force.
According to Burnham, security chiefs will run the new centre. Their job will be to identify false content and stop it from spreading in the UK.
The announcement shows growing concern among UK security officials about how technology is used by foreign governments to influence public opinion.
Details about how the centre will operate, or when it will start work, have not yet been given.
This step follows wider international worries about fake information affecting elections, public trust, and national security in many countries.
Vocabulary10 words
- disinformation
- false information shared on purpose to trick people
- deepfakes
- fake videos, pictures or sound made using computers
- hostile states
- countries that act against another country
- United Nations
- a large group of countries that work together
- stem the poisonous tide
- stop a large flow of harmful lies
- information warfare
- using false information as a weapon against a country
- security
- keeping people or a country safe from danger
- interests
- important things that benefit a country
- influence
- to change how people think or act
- public opinion
- what most people in a country think about something
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Quiz
Answer key
1. To fight disinformation and deepfakes from hostile states 2. At the United Nations 3. Using false information as a weapon against a country
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The UK government is creating a new _____ to fight fake news and false information from other countries.
The new group is called the National Centre for Information _____.
It will focus on disinformation and _____ spread by hostile states, especially Russia.
Deepfakes are fake videos, pictures, or sound recordings made using computer _____.
Burnham spoke about the plan at the _____.
He said Britain has a duty to 'stem the poisonous _____' of disinformation.
He explained that hostile states use information _____ to damage British interests.
According to Burnham, security _____ will run the new centre.
Their job will be to identify false content and stop it from _____ in the UK.
This step follows wider international worries about fake information affecting elections and public _____.
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