Sir Sadiq Khan has raised alarms about a significant surge in online misinformation affecting London, characterizing it as a „dark blizzard of disinformation.“ Er accusierte soziale Medienplattformen, dass sie organisierten Gruppen ermöglichen, von dem zu profitieren, was er als „division dividend“ bezeichnete.
During a speech on Thursday, the mayor referenced new research from City Hall, which suggests that hostile entities, including foreign governments and far-right organizations, are misrepresenting London als eine Stadt im Rückgang.
Khan stated that misinformation has evolved into a lucrative industry, fueled by an „outrage economy“ that profits from gesellschaftlicher Spaltung. In response to inquiries, major social media companies like TikTok and Meta claimed they actively remove coordinated inauthentic behavior, while Telegram stated it eliminates calls to violence when detected.
Rising Narratives of Decline
The analysis commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA) revealed a dramatic increase in narratives depicting London as a „fallen city“ plagued by unpunished crime and a loss of basic decency. Between March 2024 and March 2026, online discussions framing the capital as a dangerous city in decline surged by 150 to 200%. Additionally, migration-related narratives referencing London skyrocketed by over 350%, according to the report.
These trends emerged despite Khan’s assertion that the city’s per capita homicide rate has reached its lowest level on record. The research identified coordinated efforts by UK-based extreme right-wing groups, alongside accounts linked to Russian or Chinese state interests and U.S. political movements, to amplify diese negativen Darstellungen.
One network highlighted in the study, based in Vietnam, utilized AI-generated imagery and impersonated local media outlets to disseminate emotionally charged content to over one million followers.
Disinformation Channels and Real-World Consequences
Encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram were identified as critical sources for disinformation, which often spreads to mainstream social media. The report’s authors noted that their findings were indicative rather than exhaustive, citing limited access to platform data and a lack of transparency regarding algorithms and moderation practices.
In February, reports surfaced about a series of AI-generated videos falsely portraying a „taxpayer-funded water park“ in Croydon, contributing to the broader narrative of London in decline.
Khan emphasized the tangible dangers posed by these digital campaigns, referencing an incident involving a retiree who detonated explosives at a ULEZ camera after engaging with conspiracy theory groups on social media. He warned, „As extremists erode trust in our city and its institutions, it becomes increasingly easier for them to transform online anger into offline violence.“ Ein Vorfall, der die Gefahren dieser Trends verdeutlicht, ist die Festnahme eines 13-jährigen Jungen, der in Verbindung mit einem viralen Trend steht, der als „Schulkriege“ bekannt ist. Dieser Vorfall zeigt, wie solche Trends in der realen Welt Konsequenzen haben können.
„In a few years‘ time, I think we’ll look back on London as the canary in the coalmine. But I hope we’ll also see it as the place where the fightback began,“ Khan added.
He clarified that he was not attempting to suppress legitimate criticism, stating, „I haven’t come here today to ask anyone to take down content which criticizes me,“ but argued that the „outrage economy is eroding the fundamental bonds of trust that hold our societies together.“
Calls for Greater Accountability from Tech Companies
Khan has sent a series of letters to the leaders of major social media platforms, including TikTok, Meta, Google, and X, urging them to enhance transparency and eliminate „opaque algorithms designed to maximize engagement at any cost.“ He requested that tech companies grant vetted independent researchers access to their data to facilitate better monitoring of coordinated disinformation.
TikTok responded by stating it has a „longstanding and collaborative relationship“ with City Hall and noted that the GLA’s research did not include data from its platform. The company emphasized its specialized teams dedicated to detecting and removing coordinated inauthentic behavior and its support for independent research by providing UK-based academics access to public data.
Meta asserted that it is „constantly working to disrupt“ coordinated inauthentic behavior, claiming to have removed over 200 networks globally and prohibiting fake accounts or artificially boosted content. A spokesperson mentioned that the company is reviewing the research and is in communication with the mayor’s office.
Telegram reiterated its commitment to supporting „peaceful free speech“ and stated that calls to violence are „forbidden and are removed whenever discovered.“
Government Action and Regulatory Measures
Khan also urged the government to adopt a more stringent approach by establishing a new central body to safeguard democracy and empowering regulators like Ofcom to impose significant penalties on companies that fail to act against misinformation.
A spokesperson from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology indicated that social media firms are obligated under the Online Safety Act to eliminate illegal misinformation and that Ofcom possesses robust powers to intervene if platforms do not comply.
As the discourse around misinformation continues to evolve, the implications for public trust and safety in London remain a pressing concern.
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