Luke Myer, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, has again pressed the Government to take stronger action against online disinformation – warning that hostile states are increasingly using digital platforms to divide communities and undermine democracy.
Speaking in Parliament today, Luke said:
“I will always defend freedom of expression, but one feature I am concerned about is the proliferation of disinformation content online — particularly by hostile states — that is designed to divide us and undermine our democracy. Will the Minister comment on that, and the approach the Government will take to tackling and enforcing against it?”
Responding, Justice Minister Jake Richards described Luke’s point as an important one and set out the Government’s approach to social media content. He argued that while freedom of expression must be protected, it must be balanced with public safety and democratic integrity. He emphasised:
- the importance of protecting democracy from “genuinely harmful and dangerous material” online
- that online abuse can cause serious real-world harm, and
- that the Government’s job is to protect both freedom and responsibility, ensuring the law keeps pace with digital threats.
The Minister also highlighted new communication offences introduced through the Online Safety Act – covering harmful, false and threatening communications.
Luke’s contribution today builds on his wider work in Parliament on digital safety and online harms. In November 2024, he raised concerns in the Commons about AI-enabled ‘deepfake’ abuse and harmful online content, urging Ministers to act. The Government later announced new measures to strengthen the law around non-consensual intimate images and explicit deepfakes as part of a broader reform package.
Luke believes that the rapid spread of misleading content – often driven by engagement-based algorithms – makes it essential for both government and social media platforms to take responsibility for minimising harm and improving transparency. He will continue working across Parliament to ensure that online regulation, digital safety measures and the wider justice system protect users while safeguarding freedom of expression and democratic integrity.