Access to information has never been easier, but at the same time knowing what is real and what is not, has become more complicated.  I first heard the term “fake news” during the 2016 US presidential election, when it was claimed by the subsequent winner of that election, to describe mainstream TV news channels that he didn’t like.  The irony is some of the alternative sources that Donald Trump promotes do exactly that, publish fake information in order to manipulate the electorate.

There has been a trend away from traditional news outlets for the consuming of news, with a move to social media.  This has led to a rise in misinformation (accidental wrong information) and disinformation (intentional wrong information) being circulated.  Unscrupulous political extremists and countries with hostile intentions to the west, push both, in order to sow discourse.

We’ve recently seen consequences in the real world.  After the appalling murderous knife attack in Southport, a wholly incorrect name for the suspect spread rapidly on Twitter, alongside false claims that he had recently come to the UK on a small boat.  The ‘source‘ for this was a bogus news website, which may have links to a hostile foreign state.  Despite these claims being quickly rebutted by Merseyside Police, rioting broke out in Southport with the police saying many people behind the disgraceful violence had been fired up by social media posts.

Politicians from the respectable mainstream parties, including the Home Secretary, have called out social media platforms for allowing misinformation to spread.  I think we need to go further.  It is very clear that Twitter (rebranded as X) is out of control, with mis/disinformation being allowed to flourish, as well as personal abuse.  The site’s owner is a big part of the problem and he seems to relish in promoting the far-right and misinformation.

I believe it would be good to get a mainstream political consensus to crack down on social media mis/disinformation and force them to better police their platforms, if they wish to freely operate here. In the meantime, I’d encourage financially boycotting social media sites like ‘X’.    

Councillor Duncan Crow, Leader of Crawley Borough Council Conservative Group

14th August 2024