Curbing Misinformation: Full Fact & Demos Discuss Methodologies

As alarms regarding possible social unrest increase, spiraled by demonstrations against immigrants, serious concerns arise about the measures set by authorities to counteract unfounded narratives. The revolution that swept across the nation in the summer of 2024 was incited by the horrific murder of three innocent girls attending a dance class in Southport, demanding immediate provisions to prohibit a repeat of similar events. Over the past months, Full Fact has devoted attention to the investigation of how false information proliferated following the attacks in Southport, the inability of digital platforms to identify and manage upcoming risks, and exploration of what more can be done by the websites and authorities to avoid violence that stems from pervasive misinformation.

In a recent event commemorating the first anniversary of the Southport upheaval, a central discussion took place about the detection and intervention of false narratives. This event was co-orchestrated by Full Fact and Demos. At the meeting, Demos divulged insightful new findings about the potency of Community Notes during the turmoil, and we extended our suggestions for a tailored Notes model ready to combat misinformation effectively in crisis situations.

However, the study uncovered that the notes were ‘barely visible to users’, curtailing their capability to prevent the diffusion of erroneous or damaging contents. During the riots in Southport, merely 4.6% of Community Notes dataset was transparently observable. So, we introduced our blueprint for the way forward: a modified notes model that incorporates speedily processed notes via external specialists, along with ‘super notes’ to ensure constructive contributions towards critical notes are published promptly to tackle impending threats to the online information domain.

This formulates an opportunity for government bodies to work collaboratively with these digital platforms to promote improvements and optimization to their pre-existing frameworks. Reflecting back on the year that ensued the Southport uproar, we have continually voiced our worries concerning the application of the Online Safety Act. As reiterated in our Full Fact Report, the Act is deemed ‘not sufficient’ in handling the issue of deleterious misinformation. The learnings from the Southport incident appear to still be unheeded.

This viewpoint is echoed by several influential stakeholders, including the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee. They averred that the Online Safety Act ‘wasn’t crafted to counteract misinformation’ and that even with full application, it wouldn’t have averted the spread of false information contributing to the riots. So, the question arises, what further actions can the government undertake to rectify the Act?

We have laid down a sequence of proposals that highlight specific spheres where the Online Safety Act has potential and necessitates refurbishment. We stress the importance of an urgent assessment to ascertain if the Act is adept at managing the vastness of noxious materials circulating on social media. The Act demands modifications to tackle the wider, systemic damages posed by misinformation to society and democracy, which aligns with its original objectives.

It is our belief that considerable online platforms and search engines ought to bear more responsibility in identifying and controlling the risks posed by unverified, potentially perilous materials on their platforms; this responsibility surpasses what is currently outlined in the Act. Although high-ranking officials, including the Prime Minister, have promised to reevaluate the Act, continued postponement only escalates the risk of unchecked misinformation decaying the public’s faith in the government and credible sources further.

We have for some time now been appealing for a coherent system to manage misinformation online during high-alert scenarios. The system would harmonize the efforts of social media platforms, trustworthy organizations, and public officials to expediently and effectively curb the spread of fabricated narratives. The Southport upheaval demonstrated the urgent need for such coordinated efforts, a need that remains vital if anti-immigrant demonstrations persist.

However, a year has passed and progress on implementing such a system has been disappointingly sluggish. This synchronization needs to be complemented with lucid, stable guidelines on how authorities should react to and debunk misinformation. In the aftermath of an incident, official bodies should promptly release all relevant facts to hinder the emergence of additional false narratives.

Resolutions to oppose misinformation must be influenced by transparent, well-structured policies, backed by research on debunking efficacy. Successful debunking strategies in one case may not translate well to another situation. A year following the Southport chaos, the government’s pace of addressing misinformation remains perilous.

The events of summer 2024 highlighted how quickly misguided actions can be instigated by the spread of false narratives; sadly, the infrastructure conceived to counter misinformation is divided and under-resourced. With forewarnings of potential future disturbances, negligence is not an option. The government needs to handle this issue with the seriousness it deserves: by fortifying the Online Safety Act, urging digital platforms to enhance their content moderation tools, and mandating a coordinated crisis response plan.

There is a pressing need to act swiftly to prevent the recurrence of a complete madness driven by misinformation. Misinformation is a dynamite that can explode any time when ignited with the right kind of misguided spark. It is the responsibility of the government and platforms to ensure we are not walking on such dangerous grounds.

Prevention of chaos and unrest should be of the utmost priority, with social media platforms and authorities each playing their part. In an era driven by technology and a bounty of information at the click of a button, measures to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the information spreading across platforms are not mere suggestions, but demands.

The role of the government is critical in ensuring a well-coordinated and rapid response to crises brought about by misinformation and fake narratives. More efforts need to be invested in data-driven strategies to debunk the misinformation, backed by rigorous research and clear policy framing. The dilatory approach towards misinformation that we’ve seen so far is not an option anymore as the stakes are higher than ever.

It is imperative; the government must take immediate action to amend the Online Safety Act, urge platform developers to improve their content moderation tools, and mandate a streamlined crisis response mechanism which can act swiftly in volatile situations. The lessons learned from the Southport riots should be a stern warning. The government must not wait for a repeats of such unfortunate set of events to take the necessary actions.