In a stark warning, senior Labour MP Emily Thornberry has sounded the alarm on the growing threat of online disinformation campaigns targeting British democracy. As the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, Thornberry has called for urgent action to address the risks posed by bot farms, biased algorithms, and the spread of false claims on social media platforms.
Thornberry’s comments come amid concerns that groups such as the pro-Brexit party Reform UK are exploiting social media to amplify misleading narratives about the state of British cities, particularly London. Analysis has shown a sharp rise in Reddit posts claiming the capital is “dangerous” and “lawless,” with evidence of new accounts using AI-generated profile pictures to spread these messages.
The Labour MP has accused social media companies like X, Meta, and TikTok of allowing their platforms to be used to “spread lies from abroad and undermine our democracy.” She has urged the government to initiate a “proper dialogue” with these tech giants to address the threats posed by foreign disinformation campaigns targeting the UK.
Thornberry’s warning echoes a broader concern about the vulnerability of British democracy to online manipulation. Last year, the foreign affairs select committee heard evidence that bot accounts based in Iran were fomenting support for Scottish independence in an attempt to destabilize the UK. After internet shutdowns in Iran, these bot networks were temporarily silenced, highlighting the need for greater vigilance and robust safeguards against such threats.
The issue of algorithmic bias has also been raised as a concern, with the chief executive of the Electoral Commission, Vijay Rangarajan, arguing that the UK currently lacks sufficient measures to address the potential for social media companies to amplify or suppress political discourse.
As the UK grapples with the challenges of the digital age, Thornberry’s call for urgent action to engage with social media companies and address the threat of disinformation campaigns has taken on renewed significance. The integrity of British democracy, she argues, is at stake, and the time to act is now.
