Social media companies could have helped to prevent riots, police chief says

Social media companies could person worked with authorities to forestall misinformation arsenic rioting broke retired successful the aftermath of Axel Rudakubana’s horrific attack, the Merseyside Police main has said.

Violent upset was seen crossed the state aft the 18-year-old killed 3 girls and attempted to termination 10 others astatine a Taylor Swift-themed creation people successful Southport connected July 29 past year.

In the hours aft the onslaught incorrect details astir the attacker, claiming helium was an asylum seeker, circulated online.

Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said she did not deliberation constabulary could person fixed immoderate much details astir the lawsuit astatine the time.

She said: “My overriding superior interest was getting justness for those small girls and for those that person been injured and traumatised by the events, and I surely didn’t privation Merseyside Police to accidental thing that would interaction connected that transgression justness process.

“But, I besides bash recognise the upset that was taking spot initially connected the streets of Southport, but besides which past dispersed crossed the country, and that request to effort and dispel immoderate of that disinformation and that misinformation, which is why, connected Monday July 29 erstwhile determination were rumours circulating, determination was a sanction released and circulating connected societal media, we went retired consecutive distant and said that was incorrect.”

She said the unit besides confirmed the fishy was from Cardiff due to the fact that they wanted to dispel immoderate of the rumours.

Calling for much work to beryllium placed connected societal media companies to show disinformation online, she said: “They knew what interaction it was having connected the streets of Great Britain.

“They could person supported and worked with america to instrumentality those messages down. I perfectly deliberation determination needs to beryllium much enactment connected that successful the future.”

Ms Kennedy said constabulary followed each of the recommendations of world studies which person looked astatine dealing with misinformation online.

She added: “I bash deliberation determination needs to beryllium learning nationally. 

“I cognize the National Police Chiefs’ Council are moving with the Government astir however bash you really combat that situation of disinformation and misinformation and the velocity successful which it takes off.

“At the infinitesimal that there’s nary 1 happening that’s going to combat that and each the proposal that’s retired determination astatine the moment, we did each that.”

She besides welcomed a reappraisal of contempt of tribunal laws.

She said: “There’s a communicative retired determination astir the interaction of spot betwixt policing, betwixt transgression justness partners, with the communities.

“The Law Commission has commissioned a reappraisal of contempt of tribunal authorities and I deliberation that’s right.

“I deliberation this lawsuit demonstrates wherefore that reappraisal is required.”