Mayor warns of London ‘disinformation blizzard’ on social media

London is currently grappling with a "dark blizzard of disinformation" online, with social media companies accused of enabling organised networks to profit from a "division dividend," according to Mayor Sadiq Khan. He has called for a more robust government response to tackle the proliferation of false narratives that he claims are strategically portraying the capital as a city in decline.

Speaking on Thursday, the Mayor referenced new research commissioned by City Hall, which suggests that hostile actors, including foreign states and far-right groups, are actively engaged in campaigns to tarnish London’s reputation. These campaigns, the report indicates, are painting a picture of a city succumbing to crime and a general erosion of societal norms. Khan elaborated that disinformation has evolved into a veritable industry, fueled by an "outrage economy" where division is the primary driver of profit.

In response to these concerns, major social media platforms were contacted by BBC News. TikTok and Meta stated that they actively remove coordinated inauthentic behaviour, while Telegram affirmed its commitment to removing calls to violence upon identification.

The analysis, undertaken by the Greater London Authority (GLA), revealed a significant escalation in online narratives depicting London as a "fallen city." These narratives frequently assert that crime goes unpunished and that "basic decency has all but disappeared." The report highlights a stark increase in such content; between March 2024 and March 2026, online discussions framing the capital as a dangerous and declining city saw a surge of between 150% and 200%. Furthermore, migration-related narratives concerning London experienced an even more dramatic increase, soaring by over 350%.

The research identified concerted efforts by several groups to amplify these negative portrayals. These included UK-based extreme right-wing organisations, alongside accounts linked to Russian or Chinese state interests and various US-based political movements. A particularly concerning example cited in the study involved a network based in Vietnam, which leveraged AI-generated imagery and impersonated local media outlets to disseminate emotive content to an audience exceeding one million followers.

Encrypted messaging applications, such as Telegram, were also identified as crucial conduits for the origination and subsequent spread of disinformation, often before it infiltrates more mainstream platforms. The authors of the report acknowledged that their findings, while indicative of a serious problem, were not exhaustive. This limitation is attributed to restricted access to platform data and a general lack of transparency surrounding algorithms and content moderation systems employed by these companies.

This revelation follows a BBC News report from February detailing a wave of AI-generated videos that falsely depicted a "taxpayer-funded water park" in Croydon. This incident was part of a broader trend aiming to portray London as a city in a state of decay.

The Mayor underscored the tangible real-world consequences of these digital campaigns. He pointed to a specific incident where a retiree, influenced by conspiracy theories circulating in social media groups, detonated explosives at a Ulez camera. Speaking at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit, Khan warned that as extremists undermine trust in the city and its institutions, they find it increasingly easier to translate online anger into offline violence. He expressed a hope that London, while currently serving as a "canary in the coalmine," will also be recognised as the birthplace of the counter-offensive against disinformation.

Khan clarified that his intention is not to stifle legitimate criticism, stating, "I haven’t come here today to ask anyone to take down content which criticises me." However, he argued that the "outrage economy is eating away at the basic bonds of trust that hold our societies together." In a series of letters dispatched to the leaders of major social media platforms, including TikTok, Meta, Google, and X, the Mayor urged for enhanced transparency and an end to "opaque algorithms designed to maximise engagement at any cost." He specifically requested that tech companies grant "vetted independent researchers" access to their data to facilitate more effective monitoring of coordinated disinformation campaigns.

TikTok stated it maintains a "longstanding and collaborative relationship" with City Hall, while also noting that the GLA’s research did not incorporate data from its platform. The company asserted that it has dedicated teams for detecting and removing coordinated inauthentic behaviour and supports independent research by providing UK-based academics with access to public data. TikTok also highlighted that content under the "#LondonTok" hashtag offers a "joyful celebration" of the city’s diversity.

Meta reiterated its continuous efforts to "disrupt" coordinated inauthentic behaviour, reporting the removal of over 200 such networks globally and emphasizing its policy against fake accounts and artificial content amplification. A spokesperson confirmed the company was reviewing the research and engaged in communication with the Mayor’s office.

Telegram communicated its commitment to "peaceful free speech," stating that calls to violence are "forbidden and are removed whenever discovered."

Beyond the social media companies, the Mayor also implored the government to adopt a "much tougher approach." He advocated for the establishment of a new central body dedicated to safeguarding democracy and for regulators like Ofcom to be empowered with the authority to impose significant penalties on companies that fail to comply with regulations.

A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology stated that social media firms are obligated under the Online Safety Act to remove illegal misinformation and that Ofcom possesses robust powers to intervene if platforms do not adhere to these requirements.

The political response to Mayor Khan’s warning has been varied. Susan Hall, leader of City Hall Conservatives, acknowledged the necessity of challenging online misinformation and remaining vigilant against foreign interference in democracy. However, she framed Khan’s pushback against negative online commentary as a tactic to deflect criticism of his mayoral failures and ignore the challenges faced by Londoners regarding crime.

Laila Cunningham, Reform UK’s candidate for Mayor of London, interpreted the Mayor’s stance as a move towards censorship, arguing that Khan is attempting to suppress criticism of his decade-long tenure, which she contends has made London dangerous. Cunningham believes his efforts are aimed at creating a false appearance of safety rather than genuine improvement.

Luke Taylor MP, the Liberal Democrat London spokesperson, while acknowledging that homicides have decreased in the capital, stressed that insufficient police presence would prevent tangible change. He agreed with Mayor Khan that online disinformation is being exploited by far-right politicians hostile to London’s diversity but suggested Khan needs to work harder to counter the "out of touch Labour government."

Caroline Russell, leader of the City Hall Greens, expressed that Londoners do not recognise the divisive portrayal of their open and inclusive city on social media. She commended the Mayor for correcting the record on declining homicide rates and highlighting the real-world damage caused by online disinformation and AI-generated imagery.