Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
What is the nature and scale of disinformation campaigns against the US? Which countries engage in information operations against Latin American countries? And what is the impact on global media freedoms, as independent media is suppressed, media workers are detained and in 2025, so far, 38 journalists have been killed?
The Foreign Affairs Committee is continuing to explore how malign actors are seeking to undermine democracy, turning its attention to the Americas and questions of global media freedoms.
The US Government identified Russia, China and Iran as key actors conducting interference operations, but government agencies aimed at countering disinformation such as the Global Engagement Centre have been closed down since President Trump took office. Ongoing disputes with social media companies in Latin America are also of concern.
In Brazil, the Government has expressed increasing concern over the role of social media platforms in enabling the spread of disinformation. Broader questions on the regulation of social media platforms will be considered by the second panel as MPs take a closer look at the dispute between the Brazilian Government and X during the 2022 Presidential election and subsequent attack on Congress.
The 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Sans Frontiers estimates that 38 journalists have been killed and more than 550 media workers detained globally so far in 2025. The Committee will explore how global media freedoms have declined in the last few years and what initiatives are available to assist journalists to combat foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).