Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to the Global Disinformation Index in each of the last three years; for what reason his Department provides funding to that organisation; and how many times his Department has held discussions with that organisation in the last three years.

The FCDO Counter Disinformation and Media Development Programme has funded the Global Disinformation Index since 2019, for activities outside the US, providing £1,999,026 between 2019 and 2022, with a further £600,797 during the current financial year. As a programme beneficiary there will have been frequent contact between the Programme Team and GDI as well as regular performance reports and reviews.

As graphically demonstrated around its illegal war in Ukraine, Russia has made disinformation central to its foreign and security policies and invested massively in systems to deny, obfuscate and distract from its actions. The Kremlin exploits any issue or system, including internet platforms and social media.

GDI uses technology to identify malign use of the internet and works with technology companies to respond appropriately.