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1718001

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p>The Government takes the threat disinformation and AI digitally manipulated content poses very seriously.</p><p>We have already seen examples of AI-driven election interference across the globe targeting elected leaders and seeking to influence democratic debate. To mitigate these risks, as part of the Defending Democracy Taskforce, DSIT is working across government to ensure we are ready to respond to risks to the UK’s democratic processes.</p>
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1717194

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>NSOIT remit and function is to tackle the greatest national security risks facing the UK from mis and disinformation. It is specifically tasked with looking at threats posed by foreign states, risks to elections and understanding how AI and deepfakes can be used by hostile actors to spread mis and disinformation narratives which are aimed at UK audiences. This remit is kept under regular review.</p>
	tabling member	4764 label Biography information for Bell Ribeiro-Addy

1716525

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The UK’s AI market is valued at over $21 billion and is estimated to grow to over 1 trillion by 2035. Recently we have seen the largest investment ($1 billion) into a UK AI start-up (Wayve), with several AI companies opening their European headquarters here. Google and Microsoft have recently announced plans to invest $4.2 billion in the UK, demonstrating confidence in the UK’s approach to AI. To encourage further investment, we host the annual Global Investment Summit, we have tax incentives available for AI companies, and we are delivering £1.5bn of investment into compute, all of which will strengthen our position as an attractive place to invest.</p>
	tabling member	4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland

1716526

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>Ministers and officials from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology meet regularly with counterparts from other countries to share our experience and expertise and to develop common approaches to online safety. We work closely with the Government of Australia and recently signed a memorandum of understanding setting out our intention to promote regulatory coordination and jointly deliver online safety and security policy to support our citizens.</p><p> </p><p>The UK government has already delivered world-leading legislation via the Online Safety Act, which captures misinformation and disinformation where it constitutes illegal content or content which is harmful to children, and which forces the largest platforms to remove misinformation and disinformation prohibited under their Terms of Service.</p>
	tabling member	4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland

1716527

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>It is a key priority of this government to preserve the integrity of our democratic processes and safeguard the public from interference by malign state and non-state actors, including through AI-enabled threats and manipulated media.</p><p>The Online Safety Act will tackle illegal disinformation and misinformation including state-sponsored disinformation via the Foreign Interference Offence, including deepfakes and other forms of manipulated media. This means that companies will have a legal duty to take preventative action to identify and minimise their users’ exposure to state-linked interference with UK society. Such content will need to be swiftly removed, requiring tangible action against state-backed attempts to undermine our democratic, political and legal processes.</p><p>In addition to our regulatory approach, the DSIT National Security Online Information Team (NSOIT) analyses attempts by foreign states to artificially manipulate the online information environment. The NSOIT works with social media platforms to support and encourage them to put in place policies that are fit for purpose, consistently enforced, and which respect freedom of expression.</p>
	tabling member	4106 label Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland

1716540

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Government recognises the growing importance of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) to the UK economy. Following a Call for Views, an SME questionnaire, and additional evidence-gathering, the Government published its key objectives on SEPs in February 2024. Those objectives, which are cross-sectoral, and so encompass our approach to Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things, include helping implementers, especially SMEs, to navigate and better understand the SEPs ecosystem. Delivering against those objectives, the Government is now focussed on the introduction of key non-regulatory interventions. These include the launch of a Resource Hub in May 2024, which would be a repository of tools, guidance and other material designed to help SMEs navigate the SEPs ecosystem.</p>
	tabling member	4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns

1716044

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The Online Safety Act (OSA) gives online user-to-user services and search service providers new safety duties. They will need to take steps to tackle illegal content and protect children. The major social media platforms – known as ‘Category 1 services’ in the Act – will also be required to take steps to enforce their terms of service and offer user empowerment tools. As the regulator for the OSA, Ofcom will set out steps providers can take for their different duties in codes of practice and guidance. This will include steps for content which disproportionately affects women and girls.</p><p> </p><p>Ofcom will also produce guidance summarising all the measures it has recommended in its different codes of practice and guidance that will protect women and girls. This guidance will ensure it is easy for platforms to implement holistic and effective protections for women and girls, across their various OSA duties.</p>
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1716141

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>We are implementing the mandatory rollout of the ATRS in phases, with the current, first phase focusing on the 16 largest ministerial departments, plus HMRC.</p><p> </p><p>The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Central Digital and Data Office are working with these departments to map their in-scope algorithmic tools and draft their first ATRS records accordingly. These departments have now all reviewed a draft version of the scope and exemptions policy. We expect to circulate a finalised version of the policy by the end of May.</p><p> </p><p>Regarding timelines for the wider rollout, expect these Phase One departments to publish their first ATRS records by the end of July. Departments finding no tools in scope will be required to submit a nil return. This will be followed by the next phase which involves extending the mandatory rollout to the remaining ministerial departments, and relevant arm’s-length bodies, from July onwards which the Central Digital and Data Office will monitor.</p>
	tabling member	4505 label Biography information for Peter Kyle

1715853

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The AI Safety Institute has responsibility for developing and conducting evaluations on advanced AI systems, including assessing potentially harmful capabilities. As part of this, it will evaluate the direct impact of advanced AI systems on individuals and society - including how people are affected by interacting with these systems and the ways AI systems are being used in both private and professional contexts. Part of this work will explore the impacts of frontier AI on democracy, including elections. The Institute is collaborating on this with key partners in the UK ecosystem – initially with the Alan Turing Institute.</p><p>The Government takes the integrity and security of our democratic processes very seriously and is working to ensure we are ready to respond to the full range of threats to our democratic processes, including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce.</p>
	tabling member	4505 label Biography information for Peter Kyle

1715597

	answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
	house id	1
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	answer	answer answer text <p>The UK has a thriving R&amp;D innovation semiconductor ecosystem and the Government’s National Semiconductor Strategy sets out our ambitious vision for the UK’s sector.</p><p>The Government has commissioned the UK Semiconductor Infrastructure Initiative feasibility study to increase access for companies to the research infrastructure they need to support commercialisation.</p><p>The feasibility study was recently completed, and the Government is considering its analysis.</p>
	tabling member	4505 label Biography information for Peter Kyle