New campaign to stop disinformation distorting UK politics | Politics | News
A new campaign has been launched to ensure future British elections are not ruined by online misinformation. There are growing concerns that lies spread on social media and online platforms threaten to distort democracy, with dangerous consequences.
Campaign founder Praful Nargund, who last year became the first Labor candidate to lose in Islington North since 1935 when he opposed Jeremy Corbyn, said: “Tackling online misinformation requires leadership at all levels of public life.”
Truth Matters campaign is pushing for an amendment that would expand the reach of the Online Safety Act by explicitly recognizing election-related disinformation as a harmful online threat. While Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act (1983) already prohibits deliberately lying about candidates, campaigners say this is rarely enforced in practice.
One opportunity Making this a reality can be achieved by the Government enacting the legislation it has promised to “protect our democratic system and culture”. Supporters include Dame Angela Eagle and Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner Dan Price, as well as council leaders.
Mr Nargund said he had faced a “deluge of disinformation” in the past year, which “can spread rapidly online, move offline and create a toxic environment for everyone involved”. Mr Corbyn’s campaign director insisted: local press The election effort was not “remotely dirty” but rather “full of hope.”
Dame Angela Eagle MP added: “The rise of misinformation online is a huge challenge. When lies spread faster than the truth, they undermine democracy, fuel division and put people at real risk.”
Bolton West MP Phil Brickell said: “Online misinformation and disinformation is a serious threat to the security of our democracy, institutions and communities. Tackling this challenge head-on is crucial if we are to rebuild public trust in the digital age.”
Truth Matters is intended to be “the beginning of a broader, cross-party movement for reform”.
