Counter Terror Business - Technology

Drones using AI to spot explosives trialled

Angela Pisanu — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:31:39 +0000

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has led a major trial on behalf of the British Army, which used AI-powered drone technology to identify landmines and explosive ordnance.

The trial demonstrated that AI models can be rapidly retrained to recognise new threat types and adapt to different environments.

Conducted with 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) at their Essex base, the trial took place over several weeks and saw dozens of replica mines and ordnance placed across varied terrain and land environments.

Data captured by sensors onboard small uncrewed aerial systems was relayed to Army operators, who used AI tools to locate and identify the munitions.

The trial also successfully demonstrated the ability to rapidly retrain AI models to recognise emerging threat types and adapt to different environments - a capability that is critical in fast-evolving modern warfare. This has also been seen in Ukraine, where drones and explosive devices are reshaping the battlefield at pace.

Major Mark Fetters, British Army Future Counter-Explosive Ordnance Capability lead, said: "The modern battlefield is littered with explosive ordnance. The equipment being developed by Dstl will allow EOD operators to conduct their mission faster and will remove people from the explosive hazard.

"We are also looking to understand how the capability will grow as other technologies mature. As different types of sensors become lighter, more power-efficient, and smaller, they will be able to fit on to smaller uncrewed aerial systems - constantly improving the capability available to our EOD and Search personnel."

Shipbuilding, steel, AI and energy infrastructure prioritised for national security

Polly Jones — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:22:57 +0000

Shipbuilding, steel, AI and energy infrastructure are set to be recognised as critical for national security.

New guidance will prioritise contracts for British business where necessary to protect national security.

The announcement comes with the government saying that recent events have shown the fragility of global supply chains and the importance of securing domestic capacity in key sectors which are vital for national security.

This is the first time the government is introducing clear guidance on how departments can protect the UK's economic security and build resilience across the four sectors.

Cabinet Office Minister, Chris Ward said: "This Government is backing British businesses and the working people who power them. These reforms are about using the full weight of Government spending to support British jobs, protect our national security and grow our economy.

"Whether you make steel in Scunthorpe, build ships on the Clyde or run a small tech firm in the Midlands, this Government is on your side."

Quantum computers to be rolled to boost security

Polly Jones — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:48:04 +0000

The government has announced a new package of measures aimed at becoming the first country in the world to roll out Quantum computers at scale.

The UK plans to use Quantum technology to help deliver personalised treatments, potential cures for diseases, safeguard security and deliver high-paid jobs.

The government has announced £2 billion of government investment to ensure the UK stays at the forefront of Quantum innovation.

A new procurement programme: "ProQure:Scaling UK Quantum Computing” will launch next week and companies will be invited to table proposals to partner with us to deliver state of the art prototypes for evaluation. The most promising companies will be invited to deliver larger scale machines for use by scientists, researchers, the public sector, and businesses.

Estimates show Quantum could boost productivity by 7 per cent in the next 2 decades, creating more than 100,000 jobs in the process.

Over £1 billion over the next four years will invested to put Quantum into action by investing at scale in technology development, skills and facilities.

The UK’s 5 National Quantum Research Hubs delivered by UK Research and Innovation are to receive an extra £13.8 million with researchers working in healthcare, clean energy, and national security projects among the first to get access Quantum tech.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "I am determined this country grasps the benefits will Quantum computing will bring. It is only by keeping pace with technological progress that we can deliver the high-paid jobs, cutting-edge public services, and innovations which change lives.

"Today’s announcements are an investment in our future - �鶹��ing better health, wealth, and more opportunities for communities across the country.

"This government is ushering in a Quantum leap - making the choice today to back UK scientists, companies, and innovators so we can deliver a future that works for all."

Professor Charlotte Deane, UKRI Senior Responsible Owner for Quantum, said: "Quantum technology holds transformative potential across everything from healthcare and renewable energy to national security and defence.

"Today’s announcement signals a shift in pace towards turning research into commercial deployment that delivers meaningful benefits for people across the country.

"It reflects years of sustained government and UKRI investment in the UK’s quantum research base and the nurturing of exceptional talent, skills and partnerships that have made this moment possible."

Tech firms must do more to protect women and girls

Polly Jones — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:22:42 +0000

Technology secretary Liz Kendall has warned that major tech companies must take action to protect women and girls from abuse and misogyny online.

At a roundtable attended by the likes of Snapchat, Meta, YouTube and TikTok, Kendall urged platforms to go further and faster in implementing safety measures.

Three months ago, Ofcom set out a list of actions that measures that companies can take to reduce online misogynistic abuse, harassment, stalking and image‑based sexual abuse. These include prompts to reconsider harmful posts, limits on pile‑ons, stronger privacy defaults and hash‑matching for intimate images.

Ofcom is expected to report on which platforms are failing to comply and the government has urged them to do so as soon as possible.

Under the Online Safety Act, intimate image abuse, cyberflashing and choking are priority offences - the seriousness as child abuse or terrorism. Platforms have a legal duty to stop this content before it reaches users.

Following the spread of sexualised images of women and girls on Grok, the government fast-tracked legislation to ban the creation of non‑consensual intimate deepfakes. Earlier this month, an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill created a new offence criminalising so‑called “nudification apps”.

Tech firms must remove intimate images shared without consent within 48 hours of them being flagged.

Tech Secretary Liz Kendall said: "Every woman and girl deserves to be safe online and we will stop at nothing to ensure the digital world is working for them, not against them.

"This government has taken tough action to tackle intimate image abuse, deepfakes and the online harms women and girls face every day.

"Now, tech companies must go above and beyond to use the tools readily available to them to make their platforms safer. If they don’t, these companies are not innocent bystanders – they are enabling abuse to thrive.

"That is why we are asking Ofcom to report swiftly on how companies are complying, because better safety and better accountability go hand in hand."

New drone factory in Suffolk to support Ukraine's Armed Forces

Polly Jones — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:18:52 +0000

One of Ukraine's largest drone manufacturers has opened a new factory in Suffolk.

Ukrspecsystems chose sites in Mildenhall and Elmsett in Suffolk for their new drone factory and testing and training facility.

Ukrspecsystems is a Ukrainian drone company, founded in 2014, which produces a wide variety of drones, including the PD-2 and SHARK-M surveillance drones which communicate autonomously with strike drones to identify, track and destroy Russian targets.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: "Our resolve to support Ukraine is stronger than ever, and we are backing Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces as they fight for peace.

"Ukrspecsystems’ new factory is a vote of confidence in UK support and underlines the deepening cooperation between our nations’ defence industries. This investment will create up to 500 new jobs in the East of England, drive defence as an engine for growth, and help Ukraine defend itself against Putin’s aggression."

Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK General Valerii Zaluzhnyi said: "This factory represents more than industrial cooperation – it is part of a new European security architecture built on shared responsibility and shared production. Ukraine brings battlefield experience and innovation, and together with the United Kingdom we are strengthening the capabilities needed to deter aggression.

"The UK’s Defence Industrial Strategy is making it easier for defence business to operate in the UK, driving economic growth and supporting the government’s support for Ukraine, in line with the Strategic Defence Review."

Tech firms given 48 hours to take down abusive images

Polly Jones — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:18:00 +0000

A new law will require tech firms to take down intimate images shared without a victim’s consent within 48 hours.

Thanks to an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, companies will be legally required to remove this content no more than 48 hours after it is flagged to them.

Companies that fail to act could face fines up to 10 per cent of their qualifying worldwide revenue or have their services blocked in the UK.

The government also plans to make sure that victims will only need to report an image once. This would mean where an image is reported, they are removed across multiple platforms in one go, and from then on, they are automatically deleted at every new upload.

In order to achieve this, plans are currently being considered by Ofcom for these kinds of images to be treated with the same severity as child sexual abuse and terrorism content, digitally marking them so that any time someone tries to repost them, they will be automatically taken down.

Prime Minister Keir Stamer said: "As Director of Public Prosecutions, I saw firsthand the unimaginable, often lifelong pain and trauma violence against women and girls causes. As Prime Minister, I will leave no stone unturned in the fight to protect women from violence and abuse.

"The online world is the frontline of the 21st century battle against violence against women and girls. That’s why my government is taking urgent action: against chatbots and ‘nudification’ tools.

"Today we are going further, putting companies on notice so that any non-consensual image is taken down in under 48 hours.

"Violence against women and girls has no place in our society, and I will not rest until it is rooted out."

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: "The days of tech firms having a free pass are over. Because of the action we are taking platforms must now find and remove intimate images shared without consent within a maximum of 48 hours.

"No woman should have to chase platform after platform, waiting days for an image to come down. Under this government, you report once and you’re protected everywhere.

"The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive."

Campaign to support parents to discuss harmful online content

Polly Jones — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:28:35 +0000

The government has launched a new campaign to support parents in talking about harmful online content.

The ‘You Won’t Know until You Ask’ campaign will provide parents practical support they can use immediately and the confidence they need to have a conversation with their children about the content they see online.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of how harmful body-shaming, rage bait and misogynistic content on social media is.

The support is backed by behavioural research and academic insights and covers safety settings, conversation prompts, and age-appropriate advice for tackling misinformation and harmful content.

Newly released research shows that half of British parents have never spoken to their children about harmful online content, while 90 per cent of 11-year-olds now owning a smartphone.

Evidence shows boys are particularly at risk of being algorithmically served misogynistic and harmful content, often without seeking it out.

The campaign has an emphasis on building critical thinking skills.

The messaging will run across TV ads and social media content on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and will launch in Yorkshire and the Midlands on 16 February.

These two regions have been selected as pilots as they contain a representative sample of the target audience, with broadly similar media literacy skills to the rest of the country so meaningful insights can be gained if the government plans to roll out the campaign more widely.

Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, Associate Professor of Digital Humanities at UCL, said:

Solving this issue requires a multi-pronged approach: regulation, moderation and education. This education-focussed campaign seeks to empower parents and supports collective communication over isolation, ultimately resulting in more intentional choices about screen usage.

Will Gardner OBE, UK Safer Internet Centre Director, official organiser of Safer Internet Day said: "Today is Safer Internet Day, and it is great to see the launch of the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology awareness campaign coinciding with this national opportunity for conversations about online safety. This year, following conversations with young people, Safer Internet Day focusses on the safe and responsible use of AI and its adoption into our everyday lives.

"Today, we have published research which shows how young people are excited by this incredible technology and are using it more than ever across many online services, but they still have concerns, questions and want to learn more to equip themselves to use AI safely and responsibly. Thousands of schools and other organisations are taking part in and supporting Safer Internet Day, and we hope the day kickstarts conversations in classrooms and homes around the UK and helps young people be better supported when it comes to online safety."

£1.85 million competition to counter prison drones

Polly Jones — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000

UK Defence Innovation has launched a £1.85 million competition to counter illegal UAS being used around prisons and other sensitive sites.

The ‘Countering illegal use of UAS around prisons and sensitive sites’ competition is being run on behalf of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), the �鶹�� Office, Police, Innovate UK, Ministry of Defence (MOD) and wider UK security stakeholders.

Practical, low‑collateral technologies are being sought that could stop hostile drones once they breach secure prison airspace.

Up to £1.85 million (excluding VAT) is available, with funding expected to support several projects across two challenge areas. Challenge 1 is for higher readiness solutions and Challenge 2 is for medium-readiness concepts.

Criminal groups are increasingly using drones to deliver contraband into prisons, carry out surveillance and disrupt operations. The drones are cheap and easy to use, but also difficult to stop.

Traditional counter‑drone methods, such as kinetic interceptors or wide‑area jamming, are often unsuitable in custodial and urban environments, as they can carry unacceptable risks to people, infrastructure and communications.

The competition is looking for solutions that act as a last line of defence once a drone has entered a secure area; can be used within the powers available to prison officers; and neutralise drones with minimal risk to people, buildings and communications.

The solutions also need to be safe to use in prisons, urban areas and near critical national infrastructure; able to be deployed quickly by a small team, without specialist training; and must be legally and ethically compliant, with clear consideration of operational constraints.

100 arrests after LFR pilot in Croydon

Polly Jones — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

More than 100 people have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police as part of a Live Facial Recognition (LFR) pilot in Croydon.

For the first time in London, LFR cameras were mounted onto existing structures, such as lamp posts, allowing officers to run deployments without the need for a van.

This move has resulted in more efficient deployments, with an arrest being made on average every 34 minutes when in use over the first three months of the trial.

The average time to locate wanted individuals has reduced by more than 50 per cent compared with van-based deployments.

Of those arrested, a third were for violence against women and girls offences, such as strangulation and sexual assault. Others include recall to prison, burglary and possession of offensive weapon.

Figures shows that the pilot has helped drive down crime in Fairfield Ward, Croydon by 12 per cent, including retail and violent crime as well as sexual offences.

Those arrested include a 37-year-old Registered Sex Offender who was found in possession of an unregistered mobile phone and having access to social media, a breach of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) and 27-year-old, who was wanted on suspicion of kidnap.

Lindsey Chiswick, the Met and national lead for live facial recognition, said: “The increase in LFR deployments across crime hotspots in London is driven by its proven impact and success — with more than 1,700 dangerous offenders taken off London’s streets since the start of 2024, including those wanted for rape and child abuse.

“This is why we are trialling a new and innovative pilot in Croydon. It allows us to explore a different way of using facial recognition by operating it remotely and more efficiently.

“The amount of arrests we have made in just 13 deployments shows the technology is already making an impact and helping to make Croydon safer. Public support remains strong, with 85% of Londoners backing the use of LFR to keep them safe.”

Government pledges to cut red tape for defence innovation

Polly Jones — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:13:03 +0000

The Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) has unveiled robotics and defence as the next priority areas where it will aim to remove red tape.

The RIO was launched in October 2024 and is working to �鶹�� the potential of sectors worth over £100 billion across its initial priority sectors. It has already worked with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to simplify the approval process for drone flights, helping companies like Apian cut their medical delivery time from 30 minutes by van to 2 minutes by drone.

Currently, businesses developing robotic technologies must navigate different regulatory frameworks across multiple bodies. A company building autonomous inspection drones, for example, may need separate approvals for aviation, data protection, and sector-specific safety rules. This can take months.

The RIO is now working to streamline overlapping requirements to bring products to market safely.

Evidence suggests that wider adoption of robotics across seven sectors could add £150 billion to the UK economy.

The government has also announced the launch of a 52 million competition for around 5 new Robotics Adoption Hubs across the country. These could be run by universities, businesses, or public sector organisations.

The hubs will give companies access to expert advice, live demonstrations, and networking opportunities to help them take the first steps towards adopting robotics, and in turn help grow our economy and improve lives.

Each Hub will receive at least £2 million per year over four years. They are expected to be operation by the end of 2026.

Minister for Digital Economy, Liz Lloyd said: "British innovators shouldn’t be held back by needless red tape. We have world-leading robotics and defence tech firms, but regulations haven’t kept pace with their innovations.

"We’re updating the rules so they work for modern technologies, cutting the barriers that stop these firms from growing and competing globally."

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP said: "When we said we would make it easier for defence firms to innovate we meant it.

"By cutting red tape, we’re delivering on the Strategic Defence Review’s ambition to fast-track the military equipment our forces need.

"We want the UK to be one of the best places in the world to start and grow a defence business – making defence an engine for growth in every region and nation of the UK."