King Charles has warned that disinformation and increasingly automated cyber threats are undermining trust and security online, urging greater resilience as hostile actors adopt new technologies.
King Charles has warned of the growing dangers posed by disinformation and other “hostile online activity”, saying malicious actors are using automated technologies to evolve their tactics.
The King made the comments in a letter marking the 10th anniversary of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which was established in 2016 as part of GCHQ to protect the country from cyber threats.
He wrote: “From threats to our international order, to the need to balance the risks and opportunities of powerful new technologies, strong cyber security is fundamental to making the online environment safer and more resilient.”
The monarch said “malicious actors” were continuing to develop their methods by “using automated technologies”, highlighting the increasingly important role of cybersecurity in protecting governments, businesses and individuals.
He praised the NCSC for defending the UK against cyber attacks, safeguarding democratic institutions and protecting “the critical infrastructure upon which daily life depends”.
He added: “You have built resilience across our public services, businesses and communities, equipping us all to prosper in our ever-evolving digital world.”
The King said he was “acutely aware” that much of the agency’s work could not be discussed publicly, expressing “profound gratitude” for its efforts.
His warning comes amid renewed concern about the use of artificial intelligence by cybercriminals and hostile states.
Earlier this week, the NCSC offered assistance to online fashion retailer Asos after hackers used its app to send a notification to potentially millions of customers.
Asos said it was investigating “unauthorised activity” involving third-party platforms.
The incident raised concerns that attackers may have obtained detailed customer information, including names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, customer numbers and dates of birth.
The King’s comments also follow a meeting last month with senior AI executives at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, where he urged technology leaders to consider the security implications of increasingly powerful AI systems.
He warned that AI could “develop darker capacities” and said there was an “urgency” to address the “existential dangers” of advanced technology falling into the wrong hands.
The meeting brought together figures including Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang, Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis and representatives from Anthropic and OpenAI.
The King has increasingly used his public platform to highlight the risks accompanying rapid technological development, while also acknowledging AI’s potential benefits.
His latest intervention underlines the growing overlap between AI safety and cybersecurity, as increasingly capable systems can be used both to defend digital infrastructure and to make attacks more sophisticated.
King Charles warns of ‘hostile online activity’ dangers
