Britain’s secret ‘black propaganda’ operations | Top secret files expose how the UK government forged documents, controlled news agencies, and cultivated journalists amid Cold War struggle
>The UK government used fake organisations and forged documents to disrupt its enemies and protect its interests amid the Cold War, declassified files show.
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>The information comes in a series of highly sensitive [files](https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=%22special+editorial+unit%22) which were released to the National Archives in London.
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>The files belonged to the Information Research Department (IRD), a clandestine anti-communist propaganda unit which operated in the Foreign Office between 1948 and 1977.
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>Within the IRD there was a highly secretive subdivision named the Special Editorial Unit (SEU), which specialised in the “dark arts” of covert statecraft with assistance from MI6.
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>That involved planning and executing “black” propaganda operations such as the creation of fictitious organisations and the dissemination of forged documents.
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>These “black” operations were designed “to encourage a reaction, incite violence, or foment racial tensions”, according to historian Rory Cormac, whose new book looks into the key figures behind the SEU.
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>The SEU also secretly controlled a series of global news agencies which posed as legitimate media groups and functioned as conduits for British propaganda content.
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>In addition to this, it supplied “independent” journalists with special briefings and pre-written articles which were then published under their own names.
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>The focus of much of this material was on the Soviet Union and its external activities, but other campaigns targeted left-wing and national liberation movements across the developing world.
>
>Anti-colonial leaders such as Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia’s Sukarno, and Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah were a frequent focus of British propaganda operations.
>
>The information comes in a series of highly sensitive [files](https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/results/r?_q=%22special+editorial+unit%22) which were released to the National Archives in London.
>
>The files belonged to the Information Research Department (IRD), a clandestine anti-communist propaganda unit which operated in the Foreign Office between 1948 and 1977.
>
>Within the IRD there was a highly secretive subdivision named the Special Editorial Unit (SEU), which specialised in the “dark arts” of covert statecraft with assistance from MI6.
>
>That involved planning and executing “black” propaganda operations such as the creation of fictitious organisations and the dissemination of forged documents.
>
>These “black” operations were designed “to encourage a reaction, incite violence, or foment racial tensions”, according to historian Rory Cormac, whose new book looks into the key figures behind the SEU.
>
>The SEU also secretly controlled a series of global news agencies which posed as legitimate media groups and functioned as conduits for British propaganda content.
>
>In addition to this, it supplied “independent” journalists with special briefings and pre-written articles which were then published under their own names.
>
>The focus of much of this material was on the Soviet Union and its external activities, but other campaigns targeted left-wing and national liberation movements across the developing world.
>
>Anti-colonial leaders such as Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia’s Sukarno, and Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah were a frequent focus of British propaganda operations.