Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan warns that the capital is under a “disinformation blizzard,” with foreign and domestic actors spreading narratives of decline to sow division. The research highlights a 350% increase in migration-related content and a 150-200% rise in crime-focused messages.
Among the culprits are Russian-aligned accounts, Chinese state interests, and local far-right groups. One Vietnamese network used AI-generated images to spread rhetoric among over one million followers. Telegram emerged as a key platform for spreading disinformation before it spreads elsewhere.
The mayor cites real-world dangers of such campaigns, including a retiree who exploded a Ulez camera after being inducted into conspiracy theories online. He calls for greater tech company transparency and tougher government action to protect democracy.
Sir Sadiq argues that the “outrage economy” is eroding trust in society. TikTok, Meta, and Telegram offer mixed responses, with some maintaining their commitment to removing harmful content while requesting more data access from them.
The political firestorm includes criticism from Khan's opponents who claim he’s stifling free speech. Critics argue that his pushback against negative commentary is merely an attempt to distract from crime rates.
