An independent fact-checking charity called Full Fact has warned that the UK is highly vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation in the run-up to a general election. The charity’s report, titled “Trust and truth in the age of AI,” highlights gaps in the Online Safety Act and the increasing accessibility of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools as key factors contributing to the vulnerability. Full Fact argues that legislative and regulatory changes are needed to protect the public from misinformation, particularly when it is AI-generated or related to public health. The report emphasizes the urgent threats posed by health-oriented misinformation, such as cancer risks and vaccine confidence, and points out that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided fertile ground for the spread of misinformation. GenAI’s ability to generate content that is difficult to identify as false is also highlighted as a concern, particularly in the context of an upcoming election. Full Fact calls on UK leaders to take action to protect the information security of citizens, rather than leaving the issue to the interests of commercial bodies. The report asserts that urgent action is required to prevent the UK from falling behind other countries in terms of protecting citizens from misinformation and disinformation. The World Economic Forum has also identified AI-driven misinformation and disinformation online as the top short-term risk facing countries. In response to the report, a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology stated that the government is working extensively to respond to misinformation and that the Online Safety Act is designed to be future-proofed to keep pace with emerging technologies. The report also includes recommendations for action, including amending the Online Safety Act to better address harmful misinformation, providing resources for media literacy, and increasing transparency and collaboration between the government, technology companies, and online platforms to combat misinformation. Full Fact concludes that after the election, there will be an opportunity for the next government and Parliament to prioritize transparency and enact targeted legislation against deceptive campaign practices.
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