Call for Evidence

Background

The Integrated Review (IR21), published in March 2021, said that protecting the UK’s democracy was the “first duty of any Government”.[1] The Government’s Integrated Review Refresh (IRR23), published March 2023, re-iterated the Government’s commitment, and promised “new action” for defending democracy at home and abroad.[2] The Government acknowledged that, since the publication of IR21, democratic resilience had come into sharper focus as an “area of vulnerability for the UK”.[3] The Refresh further committed the Government to improving UK resilience through the Government’s ‘Defending Democracy Taskforce’ which was launched in November 2022 under the National Security Council.[4]

The Government states the Taskforce’s primary focus is to “protect the democratic integrity of the UK”, as an “enduring government function with particular focus on foreign interference”.[5] It aims to ensure that electoral processes and infrastructure are secure and resilient. This includes ensuring elected officials are protected “at all levels” from physical, cyber, and additional threats. The Taskforce also endeavours to counter disinformation efforts aimed at “disrupting our national conversation and skewing our democratic processes”.[6] The Government states the Taskforce seeks to work with local councils, police forces and global tech companies as part of its work.

The National Security Act (2023) contained new provisions that aim to protect the UK from “threats to national security, from espionage, sabotage and persons acting for foreign powers”. [7] The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, included in part four of the National Security Act, seeks to facilitate “transparency of foreign influence in UK politics”. [8]

In 2024, there are expected to be over 70 elections around the world. As the UK approaches its next general election, JCNSS is launching its inquiry into ‘Defending Democracy’ to better understand how threats to the UK’s democracy may evolve and be addressed. This will primarily focus on the work of the National Security Council’s Defending Democracy Taskforce.  

Questions of interest

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) welcomes written evidence and if requested, confidential submissions, for its inquiry into ‘Defending Democracy’. Evidence is invited on the following topics by Monday 18 March GMT:

• What are the actual and perceived threats to the UK’s democracy, and from where do those threats originate?
• What are the objectives, working methods and resources of the Defending Democracy Taskforce? What has it achieved since its creation in November 2022?
• Is there more that the Defending Democracy Taskforce could do before upcoming elections to protect political parties, elected officials and core electoral infrastructure?
• How does the Defending Democracy Taskforce inform the decisions of the National Security Council, the National Security Risk Assessment process and wider Government activity to counter state threats?
• How secure and resilient are elections across the UK, when it comes to foreign interference?
• What is the role of independent bodies such as the National Cyber Security Centre, Ofcom and the Electoral Commission when it comes to foreign interference? Are they sufficiently empowered and resourced to undertake that role?
• What role are emerging technologies, such as generative AI, expected to play in upcoming elections?
• What can be done to improve public awareness of disinformation, fraud, and technological interference such as that through AI or deep fakes?
• How effective is the UK’s legislative framework for defending democracy, including the new powers under the National Security Act 2023?
• How does the Foreign Influence Registration scheme strengthen the resilience of the UK political system against covert foreign influence?
• How will threats to UK democracy evolve in the medium and long term? How prepared is the UK for addressing these threats?
• What does the UK do to support democracy abroad and how should the Government work with non-governmental organisations to contribute to defending democracy?
• How can the UK work better with other democracies to tackle foreign interference and uphold democratic values?

[1] HMG, Global Britain in a competitive age, Integrated Review of Security Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, March 2021, p4

[2] HMG, Integrated Review Refresh 2023, Responding to a more contested and volatile world, March 2023, p3

[3] HMG, Integrated Review Refresh 2023, Responding to a more contested and volatile world, March 2023, p49

[4] Cabinet Office, Ministerial Taskforce meets to tackle state threats to UK democracy, 28 November 2022

[5] HMG, Integrated Review Refresh 2023, Responding to a more contested and volatile world, March 2023, p49

[6] Cabinet Office, Ministerial Taskforce meets to tackle state threats to UK democracy, 28 November 2022

[7] National Security Act 2023

[8] HMG, Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, 19 September 2023