The British Labour government has initiated a controversial £2.3 million artificial intelligence project to monitor social media posts, raising serious concerns about privacy and freedom of expression.
The Counter Disinformation Data Platform (CDDP), managed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), aims to track and identify what officials consider "problematic" content, including foreign interference, deepfakes, and trending online narratives.
The program operates under the newly rebranded National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT), formerly known as the Counter Disinformation Unit (CDU). This unit previously faced criticism for maintaining files on journalists, academics, and MPs who questioned pandemic policies.
Privacy advocates have raised alarms about the scope and transparency of the initiative. Jake Hurfurt from Big Brother Watch emphasized the need for clarity about how public funds are being used for social media monitoring.
Since 2021, over £5.3 million has been allocated to track online "disinformation" covering various topics, including Covid-19 vaccines, climate change, and posts about public figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Leaked documents reveal monitoring of discussions about mask-wearing, cancer treatments, and 5G networks.
The initiative has drawn international attention, with American political figures expressing concern about potential threats to free speech. Toby Young of the Free Speech Union noted the political risks of expanding surveillance while other nations are reducing similar programs.
DSIT maintains that the platform will focus on broad themes rather than individual monitoring, targeting content that poses risks to national security and public safety. Faculty AI, the company developing the platform, defends the project as necessary to protect democracy from hostile states and terrorists.
Critics remain skeptical about the government's assurances, viewing the AI surveillance system as a potential tool for suppressing legitimate discourse and dissenting voices in British society.