Security Minister warns of deepfake cyber risk at Westminster summit

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has warned industry leaders about the dangers posed by the rise of deepfake technology and the risks it poses to democracy.

Speaking at a security summit attended by industry leaders in Westminster on Tuesday evening, Mr Tugendhat also discussed key issues such as protecting critical national infrastructure, cyber skills, and the government’s digital skills strategy.

Also speaking was Matthew Scott, Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), a vocal campaigner for online safety, who has previously highlighted the dangers of cyber bullying and online scams. Other guests included directors from key UK think tanks, as well as executives from global tech comms agency Centropy PR.

Skills expert Dr. Adeshola Cole, CEO of Tritek Consulting, who attended the event said: “Cyber crime poses an existential threat to businesses, particularly with criminals harnessing tools like AI to launch increasingly devastating attacks. The Minister provided a very thorough briefing on the government’s security strategy, and it’s vitally important that all organisations equip themselves with staff who have the latest cyber skills.”

Meanwhile Tristan Wilkinson, public sector lead at AND Digital said, “The public sector faces a constant threat from cyber criminals who are seeking to steal data and attack critical national infrastructure. The security minister is right to recognise that the government requires the very highest standards in cyber training and digital skills to protect itself from this increasingly dangerous threat.”

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Security Minister warns of deepfake cyber risk at Westminster summit