In this blog, our experienced Tradecraft Advisor explores how misinformation spread on social media after the Southport, UK stabbings, leading to riots. Discover how OSINT can identify extremist behavior and violent calls to action, aiding law enforcement in monitoring and combating misinformation to keep the community safe.
Following the Southport, UK stabbing in July 2024, social media played a pivotal role in amplifying misinformation and organizing violent protests across the UK. Platforms like Telegram, TikTok, and various mainstream social media platforms were instrumental in mobilizing far-right groups and spreading inflammatory misinformation that fuelled the unrest.
Research by the Thinktank, Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) found that in the 10 days after the Southport attack, posting activity on far-right Telegram channels rose by 327% compared to the 10 days before.
Challenges of monitoring misinformation and calls to action on social media.
Misinformation and hate speech spread rapidly after the stabbing, quickly escalating into real-world violence across UK towns and cities. Each social media platform presents unique challenges to authorities tasked with monitoring misinformation and violent calls to action.
Social media platforms with large numbers of followers were used to plan and coordinate violent calls to action, often targeting specific communities. The structure and lack of moderation on social media platforms such as Telegram and TikTok facilitated the spread of misinformation. Despite attempts to monitor and moderate content, the sheer volume and the ease of creating new channels allowed these groups to move to different channels as quickly as they were shut down.
Video content and visual calls to action on TikTok also amplified the calls to action. Accounts linked to far-right networks posted messages and videos which gained widespread attention and escalated tensions. Algorithms that recommend content based on trending searches also amplified misinformation, allowing false information to spread, despite being initially debunked.
The spread of Misinformation
False information about the suspect’s identity and the nature of the attack spread widely, escalating fears and mobilizing protests. Prominent figures with large followings often amplified these falsehoods, and platform algorithms kept misinformation visible, even after it was disproved.
By August 2024, TikTok had amassed over 4.92 billion downloads worldwide. This immense volume of users and data makes it incredibly challenging for analysts to monitor and filter publicly available information at scale. The speed at which information spreads online also make the task difficult for authorities.
The role of OSINT in identifying and Combating misinformation
The use of OSINT to monitor for violent extremism on social media is crucial in today’s digital age. The complexity of tracking far-right groups and identifying risky content online requires an OSINT solution that leverages AI and machine learning. Fivecast provides a market-leading solution with user-configurable risk detectors to help authorities identify and prioritize the most critical threats. This ability to quickly identify and respond to misinformation can help prevent the escalation of violence and protect vulnerable communities.
