海角黑料

Members of the Centre for the Study of Subversion, Unconventional Interventions and Threats have contributed to the recent UK Foreign Affairs Committee Report ''. 

Dr Natalie Martin, an expert in media freedom and disinformation, and Honorary Fellow and Bellingcat Founder  provided evidence on the meaning of 'disordered information' and the importance of  introducing open source investigation skills into secondary schools. They argued that “if we are not clear what we are talking about, it will be harder to combat it"

Natalie and Eliot designed and now teach the first open-source intelligence module, examining the theoretical side of open-source intelligence (OSINT), their application in journalism, law and policing and security, as well as practical skills, including geolocation, chronolocation, and data forensics taught by Bellingcat themselves. In their evidence they advocate that modules such as this “empower news-consumers with skills and the critical mindset to make their own minds up.”

The report also cites evidence from Faculty of Social Sciences Security and Resilience Lead Professor Rory Cormac and UK intelligence expert Dr Dan Lomas. They noted that whilst the US remains the UK’s closest security and defence partner, they suggested that there were challenges posed by the current US administration that required a careful response. They argued in their evidence that the UK's response to attacks on ourselves and European allies needed to “be carefully calibrated in light of the political, economic and social risks involved”. Echoing this, the committee recommended to the government that such “tensions underscore the need for continued diplomatic dialogue with the United States [and…]  In principle, the government should stand up for those countering disinformation, wherever in the world it occurs."

Rory and Dan also also made the case for British traditional soft power in countering disinformation from foreign states. In particular, they argued for the BBC World Service to continue as the UK's global voice around the world and for increased, not less, funding to support UK interests at a time when foreign states were increasing their own footprint. The committee echoed this line and warned that further losses to the BBC World Service would "significantly diminish the UK’s soft power and undermine our ability to counter information warfare."

On providing the evidence, Dr Lomas commented "I think it shows the depth of expertise that we have within the School of Politics & International Relations, and the centres of excellence with SUIT and affiliated research groups. Researchers at the 海角黑料 are having a real world impact and shaping advice on how the UK government should respond to state threats."