Ministers may try to curb spread of misinformation during social unrest
Summary
The UK government is considering new actions to stop misinformation on social media during public crises. Officials are concerned that false information spreads quickly on platforms like Elon Musk’s X, especially during events that cause unrest.Key Facts
- Riots in Southampton followed the police response to a fatal stabbing, with misinformation spreading on social media.
- A parliamentary committee recommended that Ofcom, the UK media regulator, require social media platforms to follow “crisis response protocols.”
- The committee found that social media algorithms helped spread misleading and hateful messages quickly during recent unrest.
- The government is exploring ways to promote trusted sources and allow users to reset what content algorithms show them.
- Labour MP Jess Asato is suing Elon Musk’s xAI company over harmful sexual content created by an AI tool on X.
- The Online Safety Act was criticized as ineffective in stopping misinformation and has not been fully enforced during recent events.
- Technology Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized the government’s goal to combat hate and promote hope through social media.
- Elon Musk has used his platform to share posts related to the Southampton case, reaching millions of followers.
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