Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to combat the impact of AI-driven disinformation on voters in the United Kingdom.

Security in democratic processes is paramount, and the Government has systems in place to ensure the integrity of its elections.

To mitigate this risk, the Joint Election Security & Preparedness Unit (JESP) coordinates cross-government efforts across government departments, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the devolved governments, and the Electoral Commission. During election periods, JESP activates an Election Cell during electoral periods to monitor and respond to issues, including mis and disinformation as they emerge.

The Online Safety Act also requires platforms to tackle illegal mis- and disinformation, including AI-generated content and foreign interference.

Furthermore, JESP is also horizon scanning for new and emerging threats to the election security landscape, consulting experts across industry and academia to build our information base, build capabilities to get ahead of emerging risks and ensure that the Government is collectively prepared to deliver future elections in a safe and secure environment.