La Revista Icono 14 (Jan 2021)

Fake news, disinformation and the democratic state

  • Julian Richards

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7195/ri14.v19i1.1611
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1

Abstract

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From the 2014 referendum in the UK on Scottish independence, a number of political leaders in the West have accused the Russian government of industrial-scale organised disinformation, designed to undermine the democratic process. A number of allegations have also suggested that the Kremlin has been providing financial and other aid to far-right groups in the West to disrupt the political process. In this analysis, the case study of the UK is taken in the period 2014-20. An examination is taken of current research on the scale and effect of organised Russian disinformation strategies; and the emerging official narrative in the UK government about how to deal with the problem. This narrative reveals a complex interplay between defending democracy, while maintaining a “hands-off” approach and ensuring that tech business is welcomed.

Keywords