Original subtitles

This programme contains strong language and some violent scenes from the start.

Who's your victim? Edison Yao. Chinese national. Assassinated in his apartment.

He had CCTV all over the flat, only the shooters are nowhere to be seen.

I thought you might have some...insight.

I can't do this, I'm sorry.

No, I get it. Can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

Xanda Facial Recognition.

The only security system in the world

to identify a human face with 100% accuracy.

Chinese AI technology poses no threat.

Yeah, I read the propaganda - sorry, press release.

As long as I'm Security Minister, Britain's borders won't be monitored

by a storefront for the People's Republic of China.

Ma'am? I've got something.

CCTV threw up some...concerns.

Our kind of concerns. Pass on the details.

I'll assign someone to take a look.

Garland doesn't trust me, still.

I signed up to be part of this.

The Lagos care worker claims her three-year-old son's father

is Britain's Security Minister, Isaac Turner.

What?! This is them. This is Xanda.

If we wanted to meddle, Mr Turner,

do you think this is the best we can do?

Good afternoon, distinguished members

of the China Research Committee,

and Gregory. CHUCKLING

Not everybody is present for the final vote.

Where is Edison?

The victim's last activity was an attempted call.

Maybe he was trying to warn someone.

Caller ID? Saved on the phone as Knox.

Gregory Knox? There are armed intruders in the building. Get in.

GUNFIRE No, I haven't joined them,

I am trying to beat them!

And they are watching me day and night!

What's the status with the committee?

All assets are in safe houses.

For all we know, the safe houses are exactly where they want us to take these people!

Well, I'm now joined by Home Office Security Minister Isaac Turner.

Good evening, Khadija.

This is it, the reason they wanted you.

I believe the right decision is to award the UK borders contract

to Xanda Facial Recognition.

FAINT MEDIA BROADCAST

..our security or our way of life.

This decision will come as a surprise to those who see you

as a strong opponent to China's investment in UK infrastructure.

Oh, Khadija, I've always maintained I keep an open mind.

What is he doing?!

I don't know. He's literally quoting Xanda's press release.

My phones are exploding, Guardian's hounding me for a follow-up,

he isn't even off air! Did he say anything to you?

Did he say anything about endorsing the company he accused of spying?

He must be scared. Edison's been killed, Knox has been targeted.

PHONE RINGS Oh, Christ, his wife's calling. Wait.

Simone? Aliza, are you watching this?

Yeah. Are you OK?

Yeah, I think so. We've got police here.

Why are you asking? No, it's just, we don't get it either.

PHONE VIBRATES Sorry, Simone, can I call you back?

The programme hasn't been tested for racial bias.

Sadly, there are a number of facial rec systems that underperform

when it comes to accurately identifying people of colour,

which is totally unacceptable, of course.

MAN ON PHONE: Has he had a stroke?

Gregory! Shouldn't you be in a safe house?

I am. I had to plead with the police to let me use their phone.

I thought Turner told the Home Sec we unanimously opposed to Xanda?

We think he's scared.

The way to safeguard against racial profiling

is to choose a recognition system that's virtually 100% accurate.

And Xanda gives us that peace of mind.

He doesn't look scared.

If you're refusing to March down to the BBC and get some answers...

I must insist... ..I will do it myself!

..insist you stay on lockdown!

Zach? You know Commander Hart.

Home Secretary. Gemma.

You were watching, then? Newsnight?

If I wanted to watch the Government get its teeth kicked in,

I'd turn up to PMQs.

Must have been a shock, Minister. A shock?

No, not quite, Danny.

Turning on the TV to see yourself on a normal day is a shock.

Turning on the TV to see yourself when it's not yourself,

saying the exact opposite of what you fundamentally believe

is a fucking mind-rape, if you want to know the truth.

Gemma?

Do you think we need to, um...pull up the drawbridge?

DI Latif, DCI Carey, await further instruction outside.

Ma'am, I... On second thoughts,

DCI Carey, you don't need to wait, you're dismissed.

Report to Mapping per your regular duties first thing.

That's an interesting decision.

I'm sorry? You were the one who put me on lockdown,

which is exactly what they wanted.

Detective Carey is the only one

who managed to fathom something was wrong here.

Perhaps DCI Carey should stay, given she's fully conversant.

What are we going to do?

Thanks to this...whatever it is,

the nation is now under the impression

that I'm happy to farm out facial rec

to the same hostile foreign power that orchestrated this.

You're convinced China's responsible?

Beijing is trying to meddle in British policy.

Yan Wanglei is Xanda's man in London.

He's a part of it, I'm certain.

We need to call a COBRA meeting, obviously.

SIS and the MoD should begin drafting options immediately.

We'll need a raft to formulate our response,

but first and foremost, I would like to pay a visit

to Broadcasting House.

I managed to delay him.

HE SIGHS

There's a reason I can't let you do that, Isaac.

If you go running off to the BBC,

it'll end up all over the news.

Yes, Rowan, I was rather hoping it might.

Your decision, Home Secretary.

Well, I think we'd better.

Poor bloke's been through enough.

We ought to remind you, sir, that as a Government minister,

you are bound by the Official Secrets Act.

I'm sor... Is someone kindly going to tell me

what the hell you're all talking about?

Yes.

DCI Carey can explain it...

..given she's fully conversant.

Come on, Rachel, we're all sitting comfortably.

Why don't you tell Mr Turner everything he needs to know...

..about Correction?

We'll be back, of course, same time tomorrow.

Until then, from all of us, goodnight.

We're clear.

The Turner interview is causing a sizeable Twitter storm.

Certainly wasn't expecting him to say that.

#Isaacturncoat.

What was he thinking?!

I have a feeling we'll be following this one up.

Try to get him into the studio next time.

Remote interviews depress me these days. Do you know what I mean?

Uh-huh. It might help if they didn't lag and freeze like it was 1996!

There shouldn't be any lagging. Ed, you saw the lagging, right?

Yeah, absolutely.

Sometimes I think I'm the only one actually watching around here.

There shouldn't be any lagging. Have a look into it, will you?

So, it has a name, what happened to me?

Correction...is a method of real-time image manipulation,

using the disruption of camera feeds

and the deployment of deepfake technology.

The technique was developed in China,

but its usage has spread to...

..other regions.

What regions?

The map is constantly evolving, but it's safe to assume

Correction is in operation in Russia, United States...

The United Kingdom.

Why would it be in operation here?

For instance, if we have intel on a terrorist plot,

but the evidence against the suspects is insufficient.

If you can't put them away fair and square,

you fake incriminating footage?

We turn intelligence into evidence.

Who knows about this?

It's a highly-restricted operational tactic.

No more than 50 operatives across SO15, GCHQ and the Security Service.

But who else? The Justice Secretary? The PM?

You know I can't confirm or deny.

The British state creating deep fakes?

We only ever produce images of events we know to be true.

ISAAC LAUGHS This is... Huh!

No. No, no, no, this isn't happening.

If it makes a difference, this did not start on my watch.

This moral minestrone was gifted to me by my predecessor.

So, why me?

Where does this aberration come into it?

Sadly, with the means to create false images of powerful people,

Correction has become a tool for disinformation.

Correction is the dirty secret we share with our adversaries.

We can all deploy it covertly,

but if one country accuses another publicly,

we may as well blow the whistle on ourselves.

So, what are you saying?

If we were to claim your appearance was corrected,

it would leave us vulnerable to counter-accusations.

And then, the whole global house of cards comes tumbling down.

You...you expect me to keep my mouth shut

and let the world believe that malicious bullshit was real?

I'm sorry, Isaac. Edison Yao is dead!

They are killing dissidents and attacking our national broadcasts!

These are acts of state-sponsored terror!

For which, appropriate action will be taken.

So long as it doesn't upset some spook programme?!

So long as it doesn't upset the Government,

the courts, MI5 and the police.

Good enough?

Let's hope we can rely on the Right Honourable Member

for Haslemere South to keep his trap shut.

We keep Isaac Turner on a short leash. Close protection officers,

intercepts and monitoring on all devices.

Same goes for his staff. They arranged that interview.

Any one of them could be complicit.

Do you see Correction like that?

Turner's right, we're looking at the most blatant attack

by a foreign power since Salisbury.

What do you need? Tight team, SO15, GCHQ and CIA to support.

Who do you want on your team?

Rachel certainly made an impression on Turner.

Wouldn't hurt to keep him onside.

You seem to forget how close she came to reporting us.

That was before you won her over.

Not to mention what we found.

That was insurance. You'd do the same.

She's being watched, isn't she?

Any concerns?

If you still don't trust her, Gemma, you know what to do.

Keep her close.

DOOR SLIDES OPEN AND SHUTS

DOOR SLIDES SHUT

I'll need a DCI to bridge Homicide and SO15.

If you're interested? I am, Ma'am.

You'll need assistance. What do you make of the new blood?

DC Tan?

Couple of years ago, they'd have called her fast-track princess.

They did me. I won't repeat what they called me.

DI Latif, you have compromised the location of a safe house.

A security breach that may warrant disciplinary action.

But, Ma'am, I... While a decision is pending,

your inclusion in this operation is suspended with immediate effect.

You may return to your departmental duties,

but your time with us ends here.

Be thankful the repercussions aren't more severe.

Bring DC Tan in with you.

In where, Ma'am?

Seventh floor.

What about Mapping?

Mapping runs itself.

Well, you WANTED to take over my case.

Got what you wished for.

FAINT MEDIA BROADCAST

DEVICE BEEPS

This is DCI Rachel Carey.

In place of hidden camera recording,

I'm filming this eyewitness testimony for my dossier

detailing the systematic illegal practice

of video-evidence tampering known as Correction.

Approximately one hour ago,

I was present at a briefing with Home Secretary Rowan Gill,

who I learned has full knowledge of Correction

and its use within the UK.

Also present was the Security Minister Isaac Turner, who...

..until the briefing, had no prior knowledge of Correction.

Why couldn't you call me before?

Er...security.

Police insisted.

So, you can go on Newsnight and talk to Khadija Khan,

but you can't call your wife?

I wasn't...

I wasn't on Newsnight.

You know what I mean.

Remotely.

Why did you change your mind?

About the facial-rec contract?

I can't talk about it, Simmy.

You said "people of colour", by the way.

I thought you didn't like that phrase?

You always said it sounded too close to "coloured people".

You did good, though,

in the interview.

Oh, yeah?

Not what you said, just...

..the way you said it.

You sounded...authoritative.

HE SIGHS DEEPLY

I want the truth, Isaac.

The people who tried to kill Gregory Knox...

..are they going to try to kill you? No. No, no.

The truth.

HE SIGHS

I don't know.

Turns out there's a lot I don't know.

BEEPING, WHIRRING

RAPID BEEPING

The priorities of Operation Vanguard are as follows.

To investigate a series of targeted assassinations

across the capital in the past 36 hours,

to identify the prime suspects

and to gather intelligence on a campaign of cyberattacks

against UK surveillance networks

and a major television broadcaster.

This blatant attack on UK infrastructure and civilians

is one of the most heinous I've come across.

Not least because they've hurt one of our own.

It is our assessment that this chain of attacks

was coordinated with a hack on the BBC

in a plot to affect government policy by a hostile foreign power.

While the trawl for any trace of the murder suspects continues,

Turner himself alerted us to this person of interest.

As London CEO of Xanda Facial Rec,

Yan Wanglei has the motive and the technical capability.

Now, given his status as a high-profile Chinese national,

I need hardly tell you how carefully we need to tread here.

Any arrest will constitute a major international incident.

But make no mistake, we will arrest him

if that's where the evidence leads us.

We've reached out respectfully to Mr Wanglei this morning,

and he's accepted our invitation to be questioned.

Provided it takes place at the Chinese Embassy

in the presence of Ambassador Xiaodong.

Anyone care to guess the POI's current location?

Chinese Embassy?

Thank God you're here, Carey, finally.

Hmm.

Yes, he's tucked away at the embassy.

Let's take him up on his offer. I'll pay the ambassador a visit.

If this came from Beijing, there's reasonable grounds he's complicit.

I could come...to the embassy...

..if it helps.

Do you speak Mandarin?

No.

A couple of words.

Then, why...?

Well...just...

Isn't that a bit...?

I think that's a good idea, DC Tan.

Chloe. I'll need the support.

Agreed. Excuse me.

Rachel?

..to China was like handing a British radar contract

to Germany in 1939.

I've done my research, I found no evidence of a link between Xanda

and the Chinese authorities.

As Britain's Security Minister, I fully support the CRC's...

HE STOPS VIDEO

Remote interview via webcam. All the perps would need to do is

pipe in their feed to the BBC.

Any remote camera has the potential to be hacked.

Interaction with the host, seamless.

You suspect her involvement?

Isn't it customary to send the kids to bed

when the grown-ups are talking?

DCI Carey has the same right to be here as any of us.

What are you saying exactly - Khadija Khan is complicit?

Or the avatar can respond to her questions in real time?

Is it possible to create a deepfake that sophisticated?

Hmm? Oh. Well...we haven't gotten there yet.

If anyone has, it's China.

I'd love to furnish you with directions to their embassy.

Why use the front door when you can hack the mainframe?

Oh, sorry, I can't help you there.

Beg your pardon? Strict orders from the executive branch.

The agency can no longer assist in third-party counter-espionage

against the People's Republic of China.

Why the hell not?! Because you do too much business with them,

that's why! When we tell you not to get into bed with Beijing,

you bury deeper into the sheets!

So, this is about money?

It's about security!

You know, we share a lot of intel with the UK.

I'd like to know that China isn't listening.

Message for you, ma'am. Anthony Reid asked that you contact him.

Oh. He says it's urgent.

Anthony Reid? Yes.

THE Anthony Reid? Yes.

Who the fuck's that? Security correspondent for the BBC.

It can't be a coincidence.

Surely we need to investigate there anyway? I was hoping

to keep this away from the press for as long as humanly possible.

Well, I'd like to stick around.

Give me a call when your country learns how to pick a side.

Frank?!

SHE BREATHES DEEPLY

Frank!

Look, if you need technical help with the BBC,

I'll loan you one of my guys.

But if I find out you put them on China, the deal's off.

Since when did Frank Napier let politicians call the shots?

Since I found out they were watching me.

Ma'am?

Like thousands of visa applicants around the globe,

Victoria Bello dreams of living and working in the UK.

This landed in Rhys Edwards' inbox yesterday.

..care worker claims her three-year-old son

is eligible for a British passport.

According to Victoria, the child's father

is Britain's Security Minister, Isaac Turner.

Has this gone public? No trace of it online.

According to the message frenzy that followed,

Turner seemed to think it was some kind of blackmail attempt by Xanda.

I'd like to know why he didn't mention that to us.

My thoughts exactly.

Ma'am?

Invite him in.

Under armed protection.

Same goes for his staff.

So, this is where the magic happens?

How DID they get you?

Get me?

Rachel?

Rhys Edwards?

Commander Hart.

Ambassador. Thank you for taking the time.

This is Detective Tan.

HE GREETS DETECTIVE TAN IN MANDARIN

Pleased to meet you.

Hmm! Please, our guest is waiting.

Seems a long time since you threw

one of your famous soirees, Ambassador.

Whatever happened to those?

Your country accused us of genocide.

Fair enough.

Edison Yao was a dissident from Hong Kong.

About 36 hours ago, someone came to his apartment

and put a bullet through his eye.

How is he now?

That's awful,

but would you mind explaining what it has to do with me?

Mr Yao served on the China Research Committee,

advising the Government on your company's facial recognition bid.

24 hours later, security guard Joseph Mwangi was shot in the neck

and a police detective sergeant was shot in the chest.

Were they on the China Research Committee?

We believe the intended target was.

A data scientist named Gregory Knox.

In each case, the bullet was discharged from a QSZ-92 automatic.

A military-issue firearm manufactured in mainland China.

No surprise to find products in the UK made in China.

No, not when it comes to technology. Computers...

Metal, minerals, plastics. Medical equipment.

But military-grade weapons? That's rare.

China does not take revenge on its dissidents

and hunt them down on the streets of Britain. We are not Russia.

No-one mentioned revenge.

I forgot to congratulate you both.

Looks like the facial-rec contract is going your way.

I'm curious.

Why do you think a minister known for his stance against Chinese tech

ended up going with a Chinese company?

Do you realise what you're implying, young lady?

DC Tan.

Just asking.

How very disappointing.

Once again, we find ourselves

the subject of baseless, lurid allegations.

China, the bogeyman of the world.

We find it offensive.

Just as we find it offensive, Commander Hart,

that you bring along a colleague of Chinese descent

to appease your brazen prejudice.

I have another engagement.

Perhaps we could continue this

when you have something more to go on besides bias?

I'm sorry to hear about your detective sergeant.

You said he was shot, but you didn't say if he survived.

No, I didn't.

Tom, I want a team car watching the entrance 24/7.

I'll assign the eyeball.

How do you feel about joining a surveillance unit?

Sir, apart from basic undercover on the fast-track, I don't have much

experience. Yeah, but you've seen the target up close and personal.

Ops and monitoring.

We need verification. Eyes on Yan Wanglei.

Sir.

About Nadia, Ma'am...

DI Latif.

She's not actually going to receive disciplinary action, is she?

Because she only breached the safe house on my instruction.

If you have the spare time or the bandwidth to feel guilty about it,

why don't you give her a call?

Better yet, send flowers.

In the meantime, I'd appreciate your focus.

Yes, Ma'am.

So, how do you want to play this, then, Ma'am?

Just listen and learn.

Gem! Anthony!

Thank you for coming to us.

I've booked somewhere we can't be overlooked.

I imagine you've seen the Isaac Turner interview.

He's pro-Xanda now.

Yes. Pretty surprising U-turn, even by this Government's standards.

Got us wondering if China has something on Turner.

Until we chanced upon a different theory.

Khadija complained about the remote connection speed last night.

Nothing odd about that.

Khadija complains about something MOST nights.

But when the engineers tracked Turner's IP address,

they discovered something strange.

The signal wasn't coming from London.

Wasn't coming from the UK at all.

It was coming from China.

Care to share any insights?

You're right to bring this to our attention.

I suggest we arrange a discreet unit to investigate.

Rachel, with a member of our technical team.

Provided you're willing to share any findings with us.

We plan to run this as soon as possible.

Run? The story.

Is there one? We know that Isaac Turner wasn't in China last night,

so clearly, we're looking at some kind of foreign interference.

We're juggling theories, from hacking to full-on deep fakes.

It is remarkable that Turner said exactly what Xanda wanted him to.

Of all the stories on our radar involving that particular minister,

I'd shelve this one if I were you.

Because...?

Because the BBC needs to maintain its reputation

as a trusted news source, not a beacon of disinformation.

Yes, we've discussed this conundrum.

If we report it, we risk undermining our credibility.

But if we don't and it gets out, that would be worse.

Then let me spare you the dilemma.

Already, this raises a number of concerns.

I'm sure I can count on your cooperation.

Hold the story while we investigate.

Well, so long as you can enlighten us

on those concerns while we investigate.

I'm afraid I can't do that.

Well, then, I'm afraid I can't allow you to sniff around our studio.

We'll come back with a warrant.

You've just alerted us to a suspected cyber attack

by a foreign power. That makes your studio a crime scene.

If we don't investigate, it'll be dereliction of duty.

It'll leave you vulnerable to further attacks.

You won't get your story anyway.

I don't know.

What with the IP address and the tech correspondent's analysis,

I can see seven minutes shaping up nicely.

You're leaving us with no alternative.

You can't broadcast it.

We'll slap a D-notice on it.

A D-notice to Khadija Khan?

Red rag, bull.

You'll have to do more than that to bring her onside.

Come on, Gem, you know the deal.

If you're going to use the nuclear option,

you've got to offer up a sweetener.

You mentioned other stories.

About the minister.

"Fearing for my safety and the safety of my family,

"I...I decided to alter my position on Xanda Facial Recognition."

This is how you want me to play it -

that I was intimidated into changing my mind?

You need an explanation for your staff, your wife.

I don't lie to my wife.

Of course.

Ah. Thanks for coming in to see us, Minister. Why don't you take a seat?

I appreciate you keeping me updated, sir.

What can you give me?

You're looking into Xanda, right?

We are running multiple lines of inquiry, of course.

And my team, you're talking to my team - Aliza Clark, Rhys Edwards?

They're helping us, yeah.

Have you heard from the Home Office? I certainly haven't.

Might you be more comfortable sitting down, Minister?

No, not really, Danny. I have been cooped in a safe house all night.

We just need to ask you a few questions, sir.

OK.

How...how long have you known Aliza Clark? Aliza?

I was with Rhys and Isaac last night

when we agreed to do the Newsnight interview.

Rhys went off to... She's been with me since,

well, since I became Security Minister. A year.

What do you know about her private life?

I'm not sure she has one. I imagine there's a cat.

Hmm! What about Rhys Edwards?

I set up the interview, tried to confirm it with Isaac,

couldn't get through. Honestly, I don't know what else to tell you.

He's a decent spad. He's public-school prat,

but I'm in government, I'm surrounded by them.

Are you aware of any reason either Clark or Edwards

could have been compromised?

Compromised? Well, anything that may have left them vulnerable

to bribery or blackmail.

Nothing in Westminster would surprise me,

but, no, I'm not aware of anything. Why?

The cyberattacks on the BBC were coordinated so meticulously

that it suggests the collusion of one or more members of your team.

Aliza and Rhys?

Or indeed yourself, Minister.

I thought... Huh!

I thought I was brought here for an update. Am I under suspicion?

Well, with cases involving foreign intervention,

it's not unusual to find that victims have been...coerced.

Blackmailed.

What can you tell us about Victoria Bello?

LIFT DINGS

Then you agree, it was the right move?

You planted the other story,

then let them think finding it was their idea.

You got the result we needed, Ma'am.

The minister in charge of Britain's borders has

a foreign lovechild trying to get in.

That story will come out sooner or later, with or without our help.

I imagine so.

Have you been reading our emails?

Any information you could provide us would be extremely helpful.

Er...my office received some bogus report

about a woman claiming I'm the father of her child, but...

it's all lies. And you suspected China was behind it?

Yan Wanglei made some veiled threat about spying.

"Everybody has something", he said, but he's wrong, I don't.

You're saying that they made up the lovechild story to blackmail you?

Or to defame me, discredit me.

China faked your announcement. Why would they want to discredit you?

I-I don't know, Detective.

I'd really love to leave the job of figuring out

exactly how and why China fucked us to you,

so I can get on with the job of figuring out

how the hell the Government's meant to respond.

I assume I'm free to leave?

As long as you're accompanied by protection officers.

Um, I'd just like to ask one last question.

You didn't mention anything about the lovechild allegation to us.

Why is that?

I wouldn't expect you to understand.

Look, I don't want something like this

getting traction, even false.

We can't have it out there.

DOOR SHUTS

I guess I'm in the right place.

I was hoping it would be you.

Rachel, Louie.

Frank told me to remind you of the parameters.

Frank needs a fucking holiday.

That is the longest I've been without my phone.

Since? No, that was the end of my sentence.

So, what - how bad is it?

Er...well, "Isaac U-turn" is obviously trending.

There's no shortage of hate.

But until now, a lot of these people didn't know who you were, so...

Approval ratings down, brand awareness up.

You know, it's this level of incompetence

that reassures me neither of you are involved.

What about the PM - any statement, or...?

Nothing from Downing Street or the Home Office. Nothing?

Oh, wait, there's a voice message from McKenzie.

Newsnight want you back on tonight.

What? What do you want to say, Aliza?

I think we'd all just like to know what happened.

VOICEMAIL: You have one new message...

Fearing for my safety and the safety of my family,

I decided to alter my position on Xanda Facial Recognition.

I knew it. It's fair enough, Isaac.

Hmm! What? YOU don't know. YOU don't have kids.

Well, neither do you, unless YOU'RE the one with the secret lovechild.

Sorry, fake secret lovechild.

That's the other thing, they know about that, too.

They're not the only ones.

What did you have for breakfast, Isaac?

It was so long ago, I can't remember.

Thank you. Audio level's good.

Do you normally do test recordings?

Whenever we link up to a new computer or a new location.

When his spad said that Isaac Turner wanted to do a remote interview,

I assumed he meant from home.

But then Turner called and said he was in London.

Isaac Turner called you himself?

Yes.

And how did he sound?

Like Isaac Turner.

So, nothing unusual? No.

We sent him the link and he jumped straight on this test.

He did get a bit Christian Bale at one point.

Any chance you could raise your laptop an inch for me, Isaac?

No, I'm pretty happy with the frame.

Yeah, well, we'd prefer a bit more headroom.

Or we can cancel the interview.

He chose the framing.

Yeah. Diva.

Smart.

So, what can you tell us, off the record?

Did China hack my programme, or what?

You can ask all you like, Ed, you won't get any answers.

Khadija. Er...this is... Rachel.

Hmm.

Anthony told me you'd be sniffing around.

Well, I'd appreciate a few minutes, Miss Khan, when you can spare them.

You should've thought of that before you took my story away.

We're working on a better one.

Yeah, we'll see.

She'll warm up, possibly.

You're running it, then, the love child story?

Yeah. We need to verify it first.

PHONE VIBRATES

Excuse me.

Tom. Looks like there's good news from the hospital.

I'm heading over there.

DISTANT SIRENS

I asked you yesterday, was there anything I should know.

There was nothing then, there's nothing now.

The BBC are asking for a comment. Tell them it's bullshit,

and if they run it, we'll take a pickaxe to their budget.

Well, before we go that route, Isaac,

there is something we need to ask you.

Is it?

Bullshit?

It's a perfectly plausible story.

You were in Lagos four years ago.

Somebody's obviously done their homework.

So have you, by the looks of it.

You manage to uncover WHY I was there?

No? I flew to Lagos for my mother's funeral.

Good! Um...not good. I'm sorry for your loss.

It was four years ago, Rowan.

Would you be willing to take a paternity test?

For God's sake, the man's just told you he was burying his mother!

An emotional time. What does that mean?

It means it's not impossible that while you flew to Lagos

to bury your mother, you did also at some point during that trip

bury something else.

Four years ago, we'd just won the election.

Do you really think I'd jeopardise my seat in Parliament

when I'd only just taken it? We all fuck up. That's where you're wrong.

You don't fuck up? No.

MCKENZIE LAUGHS

So I'll just tell the press that it can't be true,

because the amazing Isaac Turner never fucks up!

Let me ask you something.

How many Cabinet ministers get caught with their pants down

or their fingers in the expenses pot

only to bounce right back, careers unscathed?

You see, it doesn't quite work like that if you look like me.

If I'M dishonest or promiscuous,

I'm just confirming everybody's worst suspicions.

So there's a reason my parents told me to work twice as hard

and act twice as nice as all the other kids in school.

I took their advice, I'm still taking it now.

I treat my wife and children with respect,

but I don't do it just for their sake or because it makes me

a good Christian, despite what everybody thinks.

I do it because no-one's going to give me a second chance!

So, no, when it comes to getting ahead in Westminster,

I don't fuck up.

I'll tell the BBC to bury the story.

Thank fuck for that.

Home Secretary, I'd like a word, alone.

MACHINES BEEP

..High Dependency Unit,

which means his condition is serious, but no longer critical.

He's in a medically induced coma,

but he will wake in due course.

Is he going to be all right?

SHE SNIFFLES Yeah.

Daddy's still sleeping, but he's going to be all right.

OK. Shall we go and see him? Yeah.

Doctor? How long do you think before he's conscious?

Well, each patient is different, but, er...

well, he could be awake in the next couple of hours. Thank you.

SHE EXHALES

RINGING TONE

Tom is on the... High Dependency ward. We're way ahead of you, Carey.

Ed, how's the feed check?

Kilo Six, Kilo Three? Go ahead.

We're running camera checks via Control, Kilo Three. All in order.

Understood.

Nice to see you smiling.

Whatever. Hmm!

CHILD CRIES

Need support to cover, Kilo Three?

I'm going to stay till Patrick wakes up.

I want to be here when he IDs the shooter. Understood.

CHILD CRIES

Hi. I-I need a toy for a two-year-old and a...nine-year-old.

INDISTINCT TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENT

What the fuck do YOU want?

What are YOU doing here?

What am I DOING here?

It's a fucking hospital.

SHE SIGHS

You're going to have to forgive me, Home Secretary,

but I've never had to navigate around Correction before.

I've no idea how it works.

But I was expecting to see a statement from you or the PM.

Some reaction to my highly-surprising announcement.

There's been nothing.

Well, it's sensitive whilst the investigation's ongoing.

Oh, what, so, we're just supposed to let the disinformation fester?

As long as we keep quiet,

everyone's going to assume we're going with Xanda.

Beijing gets what it wants.

You know, you COULD overrule my recommendation.

At least issue a statement,

say you're undecided and introduce doubt.

Well, those options are already being discussed.

With who? The PM, of course.

You called a Cobra meeting?

We met in the park for an ice cream. What difference does it make?

I'm talking to the PM.

Look, Rowan, given how central I am to this crisis,

I strongly feel I should be fully, actively involved

in the Government's response.

I think you deserve a bloody good rest, mate.

I don't NEED a rest.

The UK is under attack.

Not only am I Security Minister, I'm one of the targets!

And that's all the more reason for you to maintain a healthy distance.

Go home, Isaac.

Be with your family.

All right?

RINGING TONE

RHYS: Isaac?

Yes. Er...call Newsnight and tell them I've got an exclusive.

Tonight? Yeah, tonight.

And, Rhys? This time, make sure it's live in the studio.

OK, I'll get right on it.

Look at him. Hasn't he got a furry tail!

LOW CHATTER

PHONE VIBRATES

SHE SIGHS

Ma'am. Are you still at the BBC?

Not far away.

Get back there.

Isaac Turner's just cut his protection officers loose.

He's booked himself on Newsnight.

What did he say?

He's promised them a bombshell.

He's going to expose Correction.

No. You're going to stop him.

I'm on my way.

Any sign of the asset waking up,

he so much as stirs in his sleep, radio me on Two.

Yes, Ma'am.

SIREN WAILS

An exclusive - that's all he's prepared to tell us upfront.

What if it's about the hack?

Well, Anthony gave the service his word,

but if it comes from Isaac Turner...

..then that's on him.

Fucking tease!

I'm starting to like him! Ha!

SIREN WAILS

Mr Turner!

Mr Turner, this is not the way!

You can't just...! Two minutes, Minister.

I... They kill people to protect it.

I saw you when you briefed me on Correction.

You're...you're not a true believer, are you?

You need to be careful.

You need a plan.

If you want to expose this thing, you can't just go on TV and say it.

I wasn't going to.

I thought... Who have they killed?

If you'd like to follow me, Minister?

Have YOU got a plan to expose it?

Minister?

PHONE VIBRATES

Ma'am. It's under control.

You stopped him? No.

You let him go on?

H's not going to talk about Correction, he told me.

And you trust him?

Yes.

First #homework, then a startling U-turn on China.

Now Security Minister Isaac Turner is set to make headlines again.

MUSIC: Newsnight theme tune

Why was I not told about this?

Why wasn't I told about it?!

LOW CHATTER

48 hours ago, some of you might have struggled to name

the UK's Security Minister,

but a lot can happen in 48 hours,

as Isaac Turner can tell you.

Good evening, Khadija. You contacted us before we went on air

with what you said would be a revelatory statement.

Yes. Apologies, Khadija, for the cloak and dagger.

I just wanted to make sure

I had a clear channel for what I'm about to say.

Regarding yesterday's announcement, I'd like to make a correction.

The fact is, I do NOT support Xanda's bid

to supply facial rec at Britain's borders.

You've changed your mind again?

Er...I-I do not support their bid, and I strongly recommend

the Government considers options outside of China.

Yesterday, you said there was nothing to fear from... Oh, my God!

PHONES DING ..the use of Chinese technology

in UK infrastructure. I-I-I didn't come here to dwell on

what I did or didn't say.

That was a direct quote. Well, nonetheless, the issue of borders...

..Facial profiling is what makes us the most effective security system.

Oh, my God! No, no, no!

You've got to be fucking joking. ..But if, say,

Muslim men between the ages of 17 and 35...

were the most-likely demographic to launch an attack on an airport...

PHONES DING ..what's wrong with

a system that...? I'd rather face the consequences

of appearing to change course

than face the prospect of Xanda's facial rec at our borders.

Giving a firm with links to the Chinese Communist Party

access to our surveillance networks would constitute...

..Profiling, Xanda treats it as a selling point.

A selling point?

..Changed your mind? I've always been concerned about undue influence of...

Did the Prime Minister not back your report?

Putting together the CRC...

..Like any company with an international cloud,

Xanda is in sync with the growing number of governments

around the globe who have no quarrel with the idea...

I've reached my decision to recommend to the Cabinet

that the facial-recognition contract

is awarded to a technology company whose...

Stop this broadcast! Cut it!

Ed, you need to terminate this broadcast! What? No! Fuck off!

The fact that Xanda's maths adds up ought to be a source of comfort.

I'm sure the majority of your viewers would agree.

Fucking hell! Hello? This is a national security issue!

Somebody needs to stop this broadcast!

Can someone get this woman out of my fucking gallery?

I'm trying. National security. Somebody stop broadcast now!

..Give me an answer! It won't cut!

It's not cutting! We're locked on Turner! What's going on?

Racial profiling is what makes Muslim men between the ages of...

Xanda is in synch with the growing number of...

Wrap it up, Khadija. Cut it back!

Khadija, wrap it up now. Minister, we have to move on.

Now, listening to that in our Salford studio was...

What the fuck...?!

PHONE RINGS

Oh.

Prime Minister.

Ed? Twitter's blown up.

What?! Over the U-turn? That's ludicrous!

Ma'am, you need to get down here.

Why has my wife called seven times? Everybody, quiet!

This is a police matter!

Nobody is to leave this studio until otherwise instructed.

I need you...and you.

You contacted us before we went on air

with what you said would be a revelatory statement.

What's wrong with this?! Keep watching.

Regarding yesterday's announcement, I'd like to make a correction.

You asked me if Xanda had been tested for racial bias.

I'm afraid my answer wasn't entirely accurate.

What IS this? He didn't say that.

The truth is,

racial profiling is what makes Xanda

the most-effective security system on the market.

What?! We've been hacked. This has been changed! Faked!

Corrected.

If, and I'm not saying this is the case,

but if, say, Muslim men between the ages of 17 and 35

were the most-likely demographic to launch an attack at an airport,

what's wrong with a system that factors that in?

I-I-I-I-I would...I would nev...

H-How...? I don't know.

Minister, are you suggesting

the programme uses racial bias deliberately...?

That's my voice! I'm not suggesting, I'm saying.

While most facial-recognition providers

see profiling as an AI flaw,

Xanda treats it as a selling point.

A selling point? Yes.

Like any company...

If you think you can slap a D-notice on this, you can think again.

I must ask you to sit down. Good luck with that!

You are a witness to a major national security breach. No shit!

First time... Everyone here is a suspect... ..people are going...

Do not make me explain... Furthermore, I must...

..Choosing to interact with other suspects at this time

may compromise a counter-terror investigation!

Sorry, I'm going way above anyone in here. Khadija!

Maybe we should let her get on with it.

I told you, it is not that simple!

And I asked you if you had a plan!

Wait here.

Minister... I can tell you that... ..to be completely clear,

you're advocating the use of racial profiling at UK airports?

No, Khadija, to be completely clear,

I'm advocating the use of racial profiling wherever it keeps us safe.

Minister, we have to move on. I'm fucking finished.

Khadija?

Khadija! You are not taking this story away from me.

I'm calling the channel controller and then I'm calling legal.

CALL FAILS

Fucking signal!

And how are you going to prove it?

I just saw myself hacked and deep-faked with my own eyes!

And everybody else saw an interview, just like every other night.

It will be your word against everybody else's.

Not even your own crew saw what happened!

RINGING TONE

You have no idea what you're up against.

If you're serious about investigating it and exposing it...

MAN ON PHONE: Hello?

..you need to gather evidence meticulously.

A wealth of it.

You need to prove it definitively

so no-one can deny it.

Hello?

Who is it?

And how do you suggest doing that?

Together.