Covid-19 Tackling Disinformation 2020-07-06
2020-07-06
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
Disinformation in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
What steps is the Government taking to help tackle disinformation in the context of the covid-19 pandemic?
The MOD supports the Government's campaign against covid-19 disinformation by providing specialist personnel in advisory roles. This work is led by the Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and the Government also works closely with social media platforms and academia to tackle this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The National Security Council's report has been ready for publication since October 2019 but remains unpublished.
To have trust and confidence in our democracy, the people of the United Kingdom need openness and transparency. If the Government have nothing to hide, why do they continue to refuse to release this report?
The security committee is not yet formed, which is why the report has not yet been published.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Disinformation about covid-19 can spread rapidly and poses significant risks.
Does the Minister agree with me and the majority of the public surveyed by the Open Knowledge Foundation that the Government need to urgently impose compulsory action on social media sites to clamp down on the spread of such misinformation?
Again, I am comfortable responding about disinformation, which the military has an active role in countering, but misinformation is the responsibility of my colleagues in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy