PM warns new tech is being used to spread propaganda and 'deep fakes'

Rishi Sunak today warned against new technology being used to peddle propaganda and spread ‘deep fakes’ in Britain.

In a surprise address to the Society of Editors’ 25th anniversary conference, the PM said an ‘axis of authoritarian states’ held an ‘antipathy’ to Western values.

He singled out Russia, Iran, North Korea and China as threats to global democracy as he made an impassioned defence of press freedoms.

Mr Sunak paid tribute to those ‘suffering behind bars in the name of freedom and democracy’ such as Evan Gershkovich, the US journalist jailed in Russia.

He admitted journalists and politicians will ‘always clash’ but acknowledged the importance of the media industry in holding power to account.

‘When the media holds governments accountable, exposes corruption, and gives new voices a platform, it strengthens democracy,’ the PM told British media bosses.

Rishi Sunak warned against new technology being used to peddle propaganda and spread ‘deep fakes’ in Britain

The PM shakes hands with Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society of Editors, after his speech

Mr Sunak paid tribute to those who are ‘suffering behind bars in the name of freedom and democracy’ – such as US journalist Evan Gershkovich, who has been jailed in Moscow

In a light-hearted opening to his address, the ‘devoted Swiftie’ PM praised recent UK newspaper coverage of singer Taylor Swift’s latest album

As he began his speech to the Society of Editors 25th anniversary conference, Mr Sunak welcomed reporting of his announcement last week that Britain will spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.

The PM told the event: ‘I was away last week in Poland and Germany talking about European security and nothing makes me feel more at home in these troubled times than coming back home to the British papers reflecting on the things I’m most passionate about.

‘Front page of The Telegraph; defence spending. The Times; defence spending. The Guardian; defence spending. And The Sun? Taylor Swift’s guide to London parks.

‘I’m just joking because The Sun also actually did stellar reporting of the defence spending announcement too.

‘And, actually, as a defence champion and a devoted Swiftie, nothing can make me prouder of this country’s sensational journalism covering what matters to me the most.’

The PM noted how the Freedom House thinktank had judged that global freedom had declined for an 18th consecutive year in 2023.

‘New technology is being used to peddle propaganda and false narratives. Disinformation is formenting division, undermining the truth, and journalists themselves are even becoming the victims of deep fakes,’ Mr Sunak said.

‘We face an axis of authoritarian states – Russia, Iran, North Korea, China – who are united by their shared antipathy to our values and our freedoms and are growing more assertive all the time.

‘Friday marks World Press Freedom Day and I’d like to take this chance to pay tribute to all those suffering behind bars in the name of freedom and democracy.’

‘To Evan Gershkovich, Vladimir Kara-Murza, Sergei Tikhanovsky, Jimmy Lai, Narges Mohammadi and so many more.

‘To the Iranian-British journalist Pouria Zeraati who was stabbed on the street here in London just a month ago.

‘To Alexei Navalny, whose decision to return home to stand for his principles when Putin had already tried to have him killed was surely one of the greatest acts of individual courage of the 21st century.

‘And to the men and women of Ukraine who are on the frontline of the fight for the values we all hold dear.’

Mr Sunak also addressed a domestic threat to free speech as he warned against ‘cancel culture’.

‘We must tackle the chilling effect of so-called ‘cancel culture’,’ he added. ‘The shutting down of people’s views and making people fearful of speaking out.

‘Because that’s not who we are, that’s not what this country stands for.

‘Democracy depends on the ability to air our views, to challenge and interrogate people’s standpoints and to learn from different perspectives and experiences.

‘If we value a liberal, pluralistic society, we cannot allow one group of people to say their experiences are more important than others.’

Ahead of the general election, Mr Sunak admitted to media bosses he ‘won’t always like what you write’, but added: ‘That’s ok.’

‘I will say that politicians and the media will always clash, it’s a law of nature, as much as night follows day,’ he said.

‘And I won’t always like what you write, or the questions that you ask, I won’t always agree with what you say, or the way that you represent the Government. But that’s ok.’

He joked that, in response, journalists might not enjoy the PM ‘always finding a way to mention that inflation is going down’.

He added: ‘It’s your job to hold us to account, and for all we might clash, I know how important your role is.

‘So please keep doing what you’re doing, constantly questioning, investigating and seeking the truth. Because as long as the British media thrives, so will British democracy.’

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