22/07/2025
Earlier in July, the Science, Innovation and Technology (SIT) Committee, chaired by Chi Onwurah released its report on 'social media, misinformation and harmful algorithms'. An inquiry was opened by the Committee following the anti-immigration and Islamophobic riots that erupted in Southport last July.
Demonstrations and riots targeted mosques and hotels housing refugees and asylum seekers, and part of the catalyst for this violence was false information spread on social media relating to the murder of three young girls.
We submitted evidence to the committee on the links between offline violence and algorithmically curated content, and connecting the dots between the business model of feed-based social media and the harmful practices, design decisions and cultures created by the commercial incentives of these platforms.
