ST HELENS North MP Conor McGinn has called for “robust action” to counter coronavirus disinformation and conspiracy theories online.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr McGinn, Labour Shadow Home Office Minister, said online conspiracy theories “designed by nefarious elements” are trying to undermine collective efforts to beat the virus.

The Labour MP’s comments come following reports in the national press claiming that Britain’s GCHQ has launched an offensive cyber-operation to disrupt anti-vaccine propaganda being spread by hostile states.

The report, which was originally published in The Times, claims it is the latest move from GCHQ, Britain’s main eavesdropping agency, to counter disinformation activity linked to Russia.

The Times claimed Downing Street considers tackling false information about vaccines as a high priority, as a reliable coronavirus vaccine draws closer.

Addressing Conservative MP Kit Malthouse, Minister of State for Crime and Policing, Mr McGinn said: “We know the impact of coronavirus to our health and the economy, but it also has serious implications for public safety and the country’s security.

“There have been anti-lockdown protests on the streets this weekend, but we see deliberate, harmful disinformation online all day, every day.

“So, in ensuring the police have what they need to meet all Covid-related challenges they face, can he (Kit Malthouse) tell us what resources he is providing to them and the security and intelligence services, to robustly counter the false online conspiracy theories that are designed by nefarious elements, at home and abroad, to undermine our collective efforts to beat this virus?”

In response, Mr Malthouse admitted that “unpleasant and untrue stories” are circulating on social media and elsewhere online.

He said the government is working with the tech giants to tackle disinformation, but said MPs also have a role to play to ensure legitimate views are “respected and acknowledged”.

Mr Malthouse said: “He (Conor McGinn) is quite right, that in social media and elsewhere there are unpleasant and untrue stories circulating, whether it’s anti-vaccine or the crazy stuff about 5G.

“And both the NCA (National Crime Agency) and the security and intelligence services are engaged with our partners in the private sector in dealing with removing as much of that disinformation as we possibly can.

“However, we have a role to play in this House as well, and us standing together as democratically elected politicians, and recognising that those who we charge to assist us in providing advice and data, that their views are respected and acknowledged.

“Has been the basis in which decisions are made legitimately. It’s the right way forward and I welcome the support of the opposition front bench, thus far on that and indeed into the future.”