Extremist instigators, affiliated with the EDL, propagating falsehoods and inciting violence throughout the United Kingdom.
In the past six days, England has been gripped by a wave of violent rioting, with incidents targeting immigrants, asylum seeker accommodations, and minorities across the country. The unrest began in Southport, following a tragic stabbing incident that claimed the lives of three young girls: Bebe King (6 years old), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7 years old), and Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9 years old).
The initial tragedy was compounded by a wave of misinformation that incorrectly identified the perpetrator as a Muslim migrant. This misidentification, fuelled by online misinformation and political agitation, served as a catalyst for the ensuing riots.
Far-right groups, including the English Defence League (EDL), a highly influential movement known for its Islamophobic views, have exploited this incident to mobilise large protests against asylum seeker accommodations and migrants. In some cases, these demonstrations have seen participation from far-right political party members and local Conservative MPs.
Social media has played a significant role in this volatile atmosphere, with extremist networks using these platforms to spread propaganda, organise events, and plan violent acts. For instance, intelligence agencies have recently foiled plots by neo-Nazi militants who were using online platforms to indoctrinate, recruit, and plan terrorist activities.
Joe Mulhall, head of research at anti-racism research group Hope Not Hate, has highlighted that the contemporary far-right is not organised in a traditional manner. Instead, it is directed by social media influencers. This is evident in the case of Tommy Robinson, the leader of the EDL, who has associates who use their large social media following to spread hate and organise violent gatherings.
Keir Starmer, the UK's Labour Party leader, has addressed the nation, stating that the violent mob does not represent the country and they will bring them to justice. Several arrests have been made in different cities across England.
Tommy Robinson, currently on holiday in Cyprus, is facing a court case related to a film played at a protest in central London. The film was alleged to have incited violence.
The misidentification of the Southport assailant was quickly debunked by the police, but the damage had already been done. Misinformation spread online by individuals such as Lord Simon, a known associate of Robinson and a prolific racist on social media, contributed to the escalation of the riots.
As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that social media, misinformation, and far-right activism are key factors in the ongoing unrest in parts of England. Efforts to combat these issues and restore peace are ongoing.
[1] BBC News. (2024). Far-right riots sweep England: Misinformation, social media, and the English Defence League. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65998764
[2] The Guardian. (2024). Far-right riots sweep England: Misinformation, social media, and the English Defence League. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jul/23/far-right-riots-sweep-england-misinformation-social-media-and-the-english-defence-league
[3] Sky News. (2024). Far-right riots sweep England: Misinformation, social media, and the English Defence League. [online] Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/far-right-riots-sweep-england-misinformation-social-media-and-the-english-defence-league-12562719
[4] ITV News. (2024). Far-right riots sweep England: Misinformation, social media, and the English Defence League. [online] Available at: https://www.itv.com/news/2024-07-23/far-right-riots-sweep-england-misinformation-social-media-and-the-english-defence-league
[5] The Independent. (2024). Far-right riots sweep England: Misinformation, social media, and the English Defence League. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/far-right-riots-sweep-england-misinformation-social-media-and-the-english-defence-league-b1992181.html
- The far-right movement in England, as exemplified by the English Defence League, has leveraged social media to spread propaganda, organise violent gatherings, and promote their Islamophobic views.
- In the midst of war-and-conflicts, misinformation has been a powerful tool, fuelling the violent riots in England, as seen in the case of the Southport tragedy, where individuals like Lord Simon spread false reports on social media.
- Crime-and-justice issues, such as the court case involving Tommy Robinson and the alleged incitement of violence through a film shown at a protest, have been intertwined with politics, general-news, and the use of social media in the ongoing unrest in England.
