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Government responds to MPs’ and Lords’ concerns about threats to UK democracy

22 January 2025

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) has today published the Government’s response to its letter before the election outlining threats to UK democracy.

In the letter, published at the announcement of a General Election in May 2024, the predecessor Committee raised several issues around the potential vulnerability of UK elections to external threats.

The letter reiterated the predecessor Committee’s concerns about the role of social media companies in tackling mis- and disinformation, alongside delays around the Online Safety Act and the implementation of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme—expected later this year.

In its response, the Government states that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology met regularly with social media platforms “to discuss what action they were taking on mis and disinformation” prior to and during the election, but acknowledged there was “more work to do”.

Chair comment

Matt Western MP, Chair of the JCNSS, said:

“Last year saw an unprecedented level of democratic activity across the world, including the election here in the UK. Although many of the more worrying predictions did not come to pass in the UK, it’s vital that we take stock, fix our vulnerabilities and remain vigilant. That said, there were concerning cases of political intimidation affected at a personal level.

“The reality is that electoral interference continues to present a significant risk, and an attractive proposition to hostile actors. We must be vigilant, and I am grateful the Government has set out its responses to the previous Committee’s letter.

“As the Government seeks to learn its own lessons from the 2024 election, the Committee will keep these matters under close review, and we look forward to continuing to scrutinise the Government’s efforts to protect our democracy.”

Further information

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