Legislation aims to shield UK internet users from state-backed disinformation

Changes to online safety bill require tech firms to minimise people's exposure to hostile online warfare'

Tech firms will be required to shield internet users from state-sponsored disinformation posing a threat to UK society and democracy, under changes to a landmark online safety bill.

The legislation will require social media platforms, video streaming services and search engines to take action to minimise people's exposure to foreign state-backed disinformation aimed at interfering with the UK. Such content would, for instance, include incidents such as the video of Ben Wallace being prank-called earlier this year by Russian hoaxers pretending to be the Ukrainian prime minister.