In Great Britain, a high-profile scandal erupted over the appointment of academic Tim Hayward, a political scientist at the University of Edinburgh, to teach a course on propaganda, despite his known links to the spread of Russian disinformation. As The Times , the teacher has repeatedly come under criticism for his statements that openly repeated the narratives of authoritarian regimes, in particular Russia and Syria.
Hayward previously claimed that the bombing of the theater in Mariupol, where many civilians died, was staged by the Ukrainian military to discredit Russia. The statement sparked outrage as international experts and human rights activists confirmed that Russian forces were behind the attack. Hayward also spread misinformation about chemical attacks in Syria, shifting responsibility from Bashar al-Assad's regime to local rescuers.
British politicians and academics express deep concern about such an appointment. Blair McDougall, a Labor MP, stressed that Russia is waging an active information war against Western democracies and universities must play an important role in countering this threat, not promoting it. He emphasized that a scientist with a history of spreading propaganda cannot teach a course related to disinformation.
Stephen Gatins, another British MP, agreed with his colleague, noting that universities should be a buffer against false narratives, not a place for them to spread.
Hayward defends himself by saying he wants to hear "both sides of the conflict" and believes the West is exaggerating the threat posed by Russian disinformation. He even called the fight against fake news a greater threat to democracy than disinformation itself.
Despite all this, the University of Edinburgh has defended its decision, saying it supports academic freedom and encourages debate on difficult topics within a policy of dignity and respect.
