17-year-old's misidentification on social media led to a UK riot, mosque attack, and police vehicle arson.
Social media misinformation on platforms like Elon Musk's Twitter led to a riot in the UK, attacking a mosque, setting a police vehicle alight, and causing significant harm. A false post claimed UK media didn't identify a 17-year-old accused killer due to not wanting people to be racist, which was false. The judge later identified the accused and said the rioting was one reason for breaking the rule of not naming minors in criminal cases to dispel misinformation. The incident raises questions about social media platforms' responsibility to prevent scams, misinformation, and violence, and whether governments should take further action if they cannot abide by local laws and values.
August 05, 2024
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