Fiona Hill, a former White House adviser, recently addressed a parliamentary committee, expressing concern that the UK has become a 'soft target' for Russian propaganda due to a lack of public education on information warfare. Hill highlighted that the UK is vulnerable to online manipulation, particularly regarding its electoral system, as there is insufficient discussion about civil defence. She contrasted this with Sweden, which established a psychological defence agency in 2022 to train citizens on recognizing and dealing with disinformation. Hill noted that during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, there were successful public education campaigns about potential threats, a practice that has since diminished in the UK. Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson echoed Hill's sentiments, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive national strategy to engage the public in understanding and countering threats from Russia and other nations. He criticized the current government's failure to communicate these risks effectively, stressing that national defence should involve the entire society, not just the armed forces.