Disinformation to destabilization: Summer of UK riots feared

Police across Britain are braced for an outbreak of violence, triggered by the killings of three children at a summer club, but flamed by disinformation and an organised campaign by far-right agitators.

Protests have been planned in at least a dozen UK towns and cities this weekend, while intelligence sources have told The National they expect a summer of riots to break out, raising memories of 2011 when London was gripped by looting and arson attacks.

Experts have pointed at “inauthentic behaviour” online – co-ordinated attempts to spread misinformation and disinformation as widely as possible, which in turn can lead to agitation then violence.

Misinformation can be defined as incorrect or misleading information, though not necessarily with malicious intent. Disinformation is seen as incorrect information that it deliberately deceptive.

At least 15 “Enough is Enough” rallies have been advertised online over the next few days, calling on “patriots” to gather with England flags and demand an end to asylum seekers and migration. A number of the adverts included the phrases “save our kids” or “stop the boats”.

The claims were spread by Russian state-owned media and some of the UK’s influential far-right figures, among others.

Read more: The National