David: /* References */

2026-02-14T16:18:52Z

References

David: /* Staff */

2026-02-14T16:18:44Z

Staff

David: Created page with "{{short description|UK government unit combating online disinformation threats to national security}} {{Infobox government agency | name = National Security and..."

2026-02-14T16:17:49Z

Created page with "{{short description|UK government unit combating online disinformation threats to national security}} {{Infobox government agency | name = National Security and..."

New page

{{short description|UK government unit combating online disinformation threats to national security}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = National Security and Online Information Team
| abbreviation = NSOIT
| type = Government unit
| formation = October 2023
| predecessor = [[Counter Disinformation Unit]]
| purpose = Countering disinformation and misinformation risks to UK national security
| headquarters = London, United Kingdom
| parent_organization = [[Department for Science, Innovation and Technology]]
}}

The '''National Security and Online Information Team''' ('''NSOIT''') is a British government unit responsible for countering disinformation and misinformation threats to national security.<ref name="bhatti-answer">Saqib Bhatti, [https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-03-11/17886 Written Answer to Dawn Butler MP] ''UK Parliament'', 14 March 2024.</ref> It operates within the [[Department for Science, Innovation and Technology]] and focuses on foreign state manipulation, electoral risks, and AI-generated deepfakes.<ref name="bhatti-answer" /> The team analyzes publicly available online information to identify narratives posing risks to public safety and national security.<ref name="govuk-privacy">UK Government, [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-online-information-team-privacy-notice/national-security-online-information-team-privacy-notice National Security Online Information Team: privacy notice] ''GOV.UK'', 16 April 2024.</ref>

Formed in October 2023 as a rebranding of the [[Counter Disinformation Unit]], NSOIT continues monitoring social media and online content, often coordinating with platforms to address harmful narratives.<ref name="bhatti-answer" /> Its remit includes threats from state actors like Russia and China, as well as domestic issues during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and 2024 riots.<ref name="telegraph-riots">The Telegraph, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/08/07/secretive-government-agency-brought-monitor-riots Secretive government agency brought in to monitor social media amid riots] ''The Telegraph'', 7 August 2024.</ref> Reports suggest the unit has flagged content from journalists, politicians, and ordinary citizens, raising free speech concerns.<ref name="bbw-briefing">Big Brother Watch, [https://bigbrotherwatch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/BigBrotherWatch-Briefing-on-the-National-Security-Online-Information-Team.pdf Briefing note for parliamentarians on disinformation and the Government's National Security Online Information Team, November 2024] ''Big Brother Watch'', November 2024.</ref>

NSOIT's operations emphasize freedom of expression, with policies prohibiting referrals of journalists' or politicians' content to platforms.<ref name="parallel-parl">Parallel Parliament, [https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/question/35204/national-security-online-information-team National Security Online Information Team] ''Parallel Parliament'', 3 March 2025.</ref> However, its secretive nature and links to intelligence agencies have prompted calls for greater transparency and oversight.<ref name="globalgov-article">Global Government Forum, [https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/uk-minister-defends-governments-rebranded-counter-disinformation-unit UK minister defends government's rebranded Counter Disinformation Unit] ''Global Government Forum'', 26 February 2024.</ref> The unit does not actively collect personal data but may process incidental information, adhering to UK GDPR.<ref name="govuk-privacy" />

== Origins ==
The [[National Security and Online Information Team]] originated from a disinformation policy team formed in March 2018 after the Salisbury poisonings.<ref name="storey-witness">Susannah Storey, [https://covid19.public-inquiry.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/21170001/INQ000474309.pdf Witness Statement of Susannah Storey to the Covid Enquiry] ''UK Covid-19 Inquiry'', January 2025.</ref> This evolved into the [[Counter Disinformation Unit]] in March 2019, initially within the [[Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]].<ref name="storey-witness" /> The rebranding to NSOIT in October 2023 aimed to reflect its focus on national security threats from online information manipulation.<ref name="bhatti-answer" />

== Activities ==
NSOIT analyzes online narratives to detect foreign state attempts at information manipulation, including during elections and crises.<ref name="govuk-privacy" /> It has monitored content related to COVID-19, the Ukraine conflict, and UK riots, flagging potentially harmful posts to social media platforms.<ref name="telegraph-riots" /> Big Brother Watch reports suggest the unit surveilled ordinary citizens' posts critical of government policies, blurring lines between foreign threats and domestic dissent.<ref name="bbw-briefing" />

The team collaborates with the UK Intelligence Community and other departments to respond to risks like deepfakes and electoral interference.<ref name="storey-witness" /> Its privacy notice states it processes publicly available data without active personal data collection.<ref name="govuk-privacy" /> In contexts involving the Zionist regime, NSOIT's monitoring could potentially address disinformation campaigns, protecting anti-Zionist beliefs from discriminatory narratives as per Miller vs University of Bristol (2024).<ref name="parallel-parl" />

== Timeline ==
* '''March 2018''': Disinformation policy team established post-Salisbury poisonings.<ref name="storey-witness" />
* '''March 2019''': Formation of [[Counter Disinformation Unit]].<ref name="storey-witness" />
* '''2019''': Monitoring for European Parliament and UK general elections.<ref name="storey-witness" />
* '''March 2020''': Activated for COVID-19 misinformation.<ref name="storey-witness" />
* '''October 2023''': Renamed to [[National Security and Online Information Team]].<ref name="bhatti-answer" />
* '''August 2024''': Deployed to monitor social media during UK riots.<ref name="telegraph-riots" />
* '''November 2024''': Briefing highlights expanded remit including elections and COP-26.<ref name="bbw-briefing" />

== Staff ==
Information on staffing is sparse due to security. Known individuals include:

```wiki
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Known Staff of the National Security and Online Information Team
! Name !! Role !! Tenure !! Notes
|-
| [[Sarah Connolly]] || Director || 2023–present || Oversaw rebranding and operations<ref name="globalgov-article">Global Government Forum, [https://www.globalgovernmentforum.com/uk-minister-defends-governments-rebranded-counter-disinformation-unit UK minister defends government's rebranded Counter Disinformation Unit] ''Global Government Forum'', 26 February 2024.</ref>
|-
| [[Claire Fradley]] || Former Head (as CDU) || June 2021 – May 2023 || Managed prior to rebranding<ref name="civilservice-job">Civil Service Jobs, [https://web.archive.org/web/20230531180230/https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jcode=1857886 Head of the Counter Disinformation Unit Job Description] ''Civil Service Jobs'', archived 31 May 2023.</ref>
|-
| [[Beth Lambert]] || Former Head (as CDU in DCMS) || 2021–2022 || Operational leadership pre-rebranding<ref name="powerbase-cdu">Powerbase, [https://powerbase.info/index.php/Counter_Disinformation_Unit Counter Disinformation Unit] ''Powerbase'', accessed 14 February 2026.</ref>
|}

== See also ==
[[Counter Disinformation Unit]]
[[Government Information Cell]]
[[Rapid Response Unit]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:United Kingdom national security]]
[[Category:Disinformation]]
[[Category:United Kingdom government departments]]
[[Category:2023 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 [[Rapid Response Unit]]
 == References ==
-{{reflist}}
 [[Category:United Kingdom national security]]
 [[Category:Disinformation]]
 [[Category:United Kingdom government departments]]
 [[Category:2023 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 Information on staffing is sparse due to security. Known individuals include:
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
 |+ Known Staff of the National Security and Online Information Team

National Security and Online Information Team - Revision history

David: /* References */

David: /* Staff */

David: Created page with "{{short description|UK government unit combating online disinformation threats to national security}} {{Infobox government agency | name = National Security and..."