According to Ofcom, there was a link between the violence in England and Northern Ireland in the summer and posts on social media. The government asked Ofcom to look into illegal content and misinformation spread during the unrest. Ofcom found that content spread quickly online after stabbings in Southport. Most online services took quick action, but some responses were not consistent. Social media posts about the events reached many people, showing how they can influence opinions during a crisis. Tech platforms like X and Telegram removed harmful content and accounts related to the riots. Ofcom urges social platforms to take responsibility for the impact of their content. New laws will hold big tech firms accountable for protecting users from harmful content. The unrest in August led to many arrests and prosecutions, some for online offenses. Both the government and tech companies have a role in preventing such events in the future.
Vocabulary List:
Misinformation /ˌmɪsɪnˈfɔːrmeɪʃən/ (noun): False or inaccurate information spread regardless of intent.
Unrest /ʌnˈrɛst/ (noun): A state of dissatisfaction disturbance and agitation.
Accountable /əˈkaʊntəbl/ (adjective): Required to justify actions or decisions; responsible.
Prosecutions /ˌprɒsɪˈkjuːʃənz/ (noun): The legal proceedings against someone in respect to a criminal charge.
Influence /ˈɪnfluəns/ (verb): The capacity to have an effect on the character development or behavior of someone or something.
Harmful /ˈhɑːrmfəl/ (adjective): Causing or likely to cause harm.
