Britain is in ‘a state of grey warfare with Russia‘, the former head of MI6 has warned, after a Russia-linked social media account spread lies about the alleged Southport attacker.
THE WARNING
Sir Richard Dearlove said people don’t ‘understand the danger that we are in’ as he called for greater awareness of how online misinformation is ‘a fundamental tactic’ in Russia’s conflict with the West.
His comments came after a Mail investigation revealed that a Russia-linked social media account amplified incorrect information about the identity of the Southport suspect.
The false claims were viewed an estimated 27 million times and social media firms were last night under mounting pressure to explain why they were allowed to spread so wisely.
Sir Keir Starmer warned large social media giants ‘violent disorder clearly whipped up online is also a crime and it is happening on your premises’.
WHAT STARTED THE PUBLIC UNREST?
The rumours swirling online led to violent disorder in Southport and cities across the country, days after three little girls were stabbed and dozens more injured at a Taylor Swift dance class.
Seventeen-year-old Axel Rudakubana appeared in court yesterday charged with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder.
THE LINK TO RUSSIA
False information about the defendant was spread online by Channel3 Now, which purports to be a US media site that shares its articles across various social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook.
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But Channel3 Now originally started 11 years ago as a Russian YouTube channel posting videos of rally racing in a city known as the ‘Armory of Russia’.
The drivers named in the posts appear to have connections to the country’s defence and IT industry, including a former KGB operative who has since served in Russia’s State Duma.
Speaking to LBC radio, Sir Richard said the website appears to be ‘one of the sources of this sort of activity out of Russia’.
