UK Government Plans Action Against Misinformation During Crises
Ministers may try to curb spread of misinformation during social unrest

Image: Theguardian
The UK government, led by Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, is considering measures to combat misinformation during public unrest, particularly following recent riots in Southampton. The Commons committee has criticized the Online Safety Act for its inadequacies, urging for more effective regulations.
- 01Liz Kendall emphasized the need for action against misinformation during crises, citing recent riots in Southampton.
- 02A report from the Commons science committee highlighted the role of social media algorithms in spreading misinformation.
- 03Kendall proposed enhancing trusted information sources and allowing users to reset their social media algorithms.
- 04Chi Onwurah criticized the Online Safety Act as inadequate, stating many committee recommendations were ignored.
- 05The government aims to implement crisis response protocols through Ofcom to hold platforms accountable for misinformation.
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In response to recent riots in Southampton following the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak, UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced that the government is exploring measures to combat misinformation during public crises. She expressed concern over social media's role in spreading misleading information, particularly during times of unrest. Kendall referenced a report from the Commons science, innovation, and technology committee, which called for the implementation of crisis response protocols by Ofcom to hold social media platforms accountable for misinformation. The report highlighted how misinformation proliferated online after the summer 2024 riots, exacerbated by social media algorithms. Kendall advocated for boosting trusted sources of information and enabling users to reset their algorithms to reduce exposure to harmful content. Meanwhile, Chi Onwurah, chair of the committee, criticized the Online Safety Act as inadequate, stating that many recommendations for improvement were rejected. The government aims to announce further details on these initiatives this month, emphasizing the need for timely action against the rapidly evolving technology landscape.
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The proposed measures could significantly influence how misinformation is managed during public unrest, potentially improving public safety.
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