British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has claimed that Russia meddled in the 2016 Brexit referendum, cautioning that similar disinformation efforts are underway in France and Germany.
Speaking on the podcast The Rest Is Politics, Burnham mentioned that he received confirmation of Russian interference after taking office at Downing Street. He also acknowledged that the British government had not sufficiently informed the public about the extent of foreign meddling in democratic processes, though he did not provide specifics on the evidence or the actual impact Moscow had on the referendum outcome.
British Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty reiterated that Russia is engaging in propaganda and disinformation campaigns, but did not delve into the specifics of the alleged 2016 interference. He also dismissed suggestions that the Prime Minister's statements were aimed at revisiting Brexit.
The pro-Brexit group Britain Unbound criticized the claims, arguing that there is insufficient evidence to support the notion that Russian intervention swayed the vote's result.
Back in 2020, a report by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee highlighted the shortcomings of British governments in assessing and countering the Russian threat, without reaching definitive conclusions about interference in the referendum.
There are also concerns about new technologies: BBC Verify has documented disinformation campaigns using AI-generated fake videos to mimic journalists and media outlets. London is now focusing on strengthening countermeasures, institutions, and security services to shield democracy from foreign interference.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved