An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism has uncovered that many Facebook pages posting anti-immigrant and Islamophobic content targeting British audiences are run by young entrepreneurs in South Asia. These pages, often using generic names like 'Britain Today' and union jack profile pictures, generate AI-generated videos and memes that promote far-right talking points, including the 'great replacement theory' and calls to deport Muslims.
The creators, based in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, have little interest in UK politics but are motivated by financial gain. They earn revenue through Meta's ad-sharing programme, with one Pakistani creator reportedly making $1,500 (£1,119) a month from a single page. A Sri Lankan creator, Geeth Sooriyapura, claimed to have earned $300,000 over his Facebook career, though these figures could not be verified.
The investigation highlights two key factors driving this trend: the widespread availability of generative AI tools, which allow creators to produce compelling content even without strong English skills, and Meta's retreat from content moderation. The company has made mass redundancies in its trust and safety teams, partly due to pressure from the Trump administration, reducing oversight of harmful content.
Comments on these posts often include calls for ethnic civil war and mockery of migrant deaths, contributing to a hostile atmosphere for immigrants and British Muslims. The creators sell courses on how to replicate their success, with Sooriyapura claiming 2,500 graduates from his content academy.
