ADD2795 - Misinformation and disinformation in London

1.1.    Disinformation poses a growing threat to London’s resilience – affecting public health, community safety, climate action, economic stability, and trust in public services and government. From vaccine misinformation to climate denial, to attempts to poison AI models and undermine institutional legitimacy, the spread of false or manipulated information weakens London’s ability to govern effectively; respond to crises; and deliver for its citizens. 
1.2.    The 2025 London Resilience Strategy sets out a commitment to support longer-term resilience to chronic risks, by integrating with strategic London policy and programmes. The Strategy also prioritises supporting the resilience of London’s communities – including through robust risk and resilience communications; and amplifying and promoting appropriate messaging through trusted partners. These actions are key to counteracting the risk of misinformation and disinformation. Evidence from this commission will help to achieve those strategic objectives.
1.3.    The 2025 UK Government Chronic Risks Analysis identifies misinformation and disinformation as one of three key societal risks to the country. It encourages ownership of the necessary mitigation measures across partners, and at different levels of government.
1.4.    In 2025, London was one of five Local Resilience Forum (LRF) areas awarded funding for three years under the government’s Trailblazers programme (led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)). Receipt of this funding was approved under Mayoral Decision (MD) 3421. This funding enables LRFs to deliver resilience priorities, as set out in the UK Government Resilience Framework (2022), and the UK Government Resilience Action Plan (2025). 
1.5.    A key theme of the Trailblazers programme is integration. This means incorporating resilience into key strategic policies and programmes, to address chronic risks such as misinformation and disinformation. 
1.6.    The risks identified in the UK Chronic Risks Analysis have local implications; the LRU is conducting a mapping exercise, to see how these are being managed across GLA policy areas. This commission sits under that strand of work. It will be included in the evidence being compiled to prioritise the chronic risks that are most relevant to London.
 

2.1.    The objective of this project will be to build a comprehensive picture of drivers, enablers and mechanisms of misinformation and disinformation; and identify pathways to reduce this risk in London.
2.2.    The overall outcomes of this project are to:
•    build a better understanding of misinformation and disinformation phenomena in London
•    strengthen the ability of London’s systems to foresee, detect, react to and counteract misinformation and disinformation effectively, and in a joined-up manner 
•    enhance the overall capacity of London partners to address drivers, enablers and mechanisms of misinformation and disinformation through their work.
 

3.1.    This project will uphold the GLA’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. It will have due regard to the GLA’s Public Sector Equality Duty. 
3.2.    The LRU recognises that Londoners are unequally affected by the risks facing the city, with poorer and marginalised Londoners experiencing disproportionate effects of emergencies. The London Resilience Strategy commits the LRU to a people-centred approach to resilience, where the experience of underrepresented Londoners adequately informs resilience practice. 
3.3.    Research findings are expected to enable an evidence-based integration of equity and diversity considerations into actions to reduce misinformation and disinformation, delivered by London partners. This work will enable an inclusive response to the relevant risks.
 

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities 
4.1.    This project directly commits to a recommendation of the London Resilience Partnership Strategy 2024-27. It also addresses important elements related to community resilience in the London City Resilience Strategy 2020.
Risks and considerations
4.2.    The risks identified within this work are as follows:
•    Delays in the procurement of the project: this risk is being mitigated through committed staff resource and time to move this project ahead. A list of providers is being drawn up ahead of the final decision.
•    Challenges in sourcing data and getting participants involved: this risk is being mitigated by commissioning an experienced provider with established links into the sectors being engaged.
Conflicts of interest
4.3.    There are no conflicts of interest to declare from any officer involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision.
 

5.1.    The £25,000 cost of this commission is covered by the Trailblazers funding to the LRU, within the Strategy and Communications Directorate. The funding is part of the first instalment of £335,864 already received from MHCLG. There is sufficient budget in the programme to fund this spend.
5.2.    London Resilience is part of the Core delivery plan, and contributes to fulfilling statutory obligations.
 

6.1.    Below is the timeline of project delivery: