Overview
- Khan, speaking Thursday at a Cambridge event, warned of a “dark blizzard of disinformation” and asked YouTube, Meta, Snapchat and TikTok to detail how they curb fake networks.
- A City Hall study reported sharp growth in false claims about London, with “London in decline” posts up 150–200% and anti‑migrant content up more than 350% since 2024.
- Researchers identified coordinated activity by UK extreme right‑wing groups, accounts linked to Russian and Chinese state interests, and US MAGA‑aligned networks using AI to spread misleading posts.
- Examples included 32 borough Facebook pages repurposed as faux activist hubs, a Vietnam‑based network with about 1.25 million followers targeting the mayor, a Sri Lanka content farm pushing monetised AI posts, and a Nigeria‑based cluster impersonating UK media.
- Meta said it disrupts coordinated inauthentic behaviour and has removed over 200 networks, while officials cited the Online Safety Act and Ofcom’s powers as Khan urged a new regulator with tougher sanctions.