Sadiq Khan has demanded stronger government action against social media companies spreading disinformation, warning that the 'outrage economy' is eroding public trust and could fuel domestic terrorism. The London mayor made the call at a disinformation summit in Cambridge, citing research showing a 150-200% increase in online narratives portraying London as dangerous over the past two years.
Analysis by the Greater London Authority also found a 350% rise in content focused on migration's supposed impact on the city. Khan said the falsehoods, often amplified by US, Russian, or Chinese state interests and AI-generated content, describe London as 'a fallen city overtaken by Islamist immigrants where crime goes unpunished.'
Khan criticised regulators like Ofcom for lacking enforcement power and called for a new central body to protect democracy. He stressed that voluntary action by tech firms is insufficient, stating: 'If platforms fail to act, the state must have the tools to make them.'
As an example of the dangers, Khan cited Kevin Rees, a 63-year-old retiree jailed for bombing an Ulez camera after consuming online conspiracies. The mayor insisted the crackdown is not about suppressing free speech, but preventing real-world harm such as harassment of charity staff, Jewish and Muslim communities, and school workers.
