Mayor Highlights Surge in Online Disinformation Targeting London
Sir Sadiq Khan has issued a warning that London is confronting a "dark blizzard of disinformation" circulating online, accusing social media platforms of enabling organised networks to profit from what he terms a "division dividend."
Speaking on Thursday, the mayor referenced new research commissioned by City Hall indicating that hostile actors, including foreign states and far-right groups, are promoting narratives that depict the capital as a city in decline.
He described disinformation as an industry fueled by an "outrage economy," which allows individuals and groups to generate profit by fostering division.
reached out to major social media companies for comment. TikTok and Meta stated that they actively remove coordinated inauthentic behaviour, while Telegram confirmed it removes calls to violence when identified.
Research Reveals Sharp Increase in Negative Narratives About London
The analysis, commissioned by the Greater London Authority (GLA), found a significant rise in narratives framing London as a "fallen city" where crime is unchecked and "basic decency has all but disappeared."
Between March 2024 and March 2026, online activity portraying the capital as a dangerous and declining city increased by between 150% and 200%. Additionally, migration-related narratives referencing London surged by more than 350%, according to the report.
These trends persist despite Mayor Khan's assertion that London's per capita homicide rate has dropped to its lowest level on record.
Coordinated Disinformation Efforts by Various Groups Identified
The research identified coordinated campaigns by UK-based extreme right-wing groups, alongside accounts linked to Russian and Chinese state interests and US-related political movements, all amplifying these negative claims about London.
One network highlighted in the study, based in Vietnam, employed AI-generated imagery and impersonated local media outlets to disseminate emotive content to over one million followers.
Encrypted messaging platforms such as Telegram were also identified as key channels where disinformation originates before spreading to mainstream social media.
The report's authors noted that their findings are indicative rather than exhaustive, citing limited access to platform data and reduced transparency concerning algorithms and content moderation systems.
AI-Generated Videos and Real-World Consequences
In February, reported a wave of AI-generated videos falsely depicting a "taxpayer-funded water park" in Croydon, which forms part of the broader trend portraying London as a city in decline.
The mayor emphasized the tangible dangers posed by these digital campaigns, referencing an incident where a retiree detonated explosives to destroy a Ulez camera after engaging with social media groups spreading conspiracy theories.
"As extremists erode trust in our city and its institutions, it gets easier and easier for them to twist online anger into offline violence," Khan said during his address at the Cambridge Disinformation Summit.
"In a few years' time, I think we'll look back on London as the canary in the coalmine. But I hope we'll also see it as the place where the fightback began," he added.
Mayor Calls for Transparency and Regulation from Tech Companies
Sir Sadiq Khan clarified that he is not seeking to suppress legitimate criticism, stating:
"I haven't come here today to ask anyone to take down content which criticises me,"
but he argued that the "outrage economy is eating away at the basic bonds of trust that hold our societies together."
In letters sent to the leaders of major social media platforms including TikTok, Meta, Google, and X, the mayor demanded increased transparency and an end to "opaque algorithms designed to maximise engagement at any cost."
He requested that technology companies grant "vetted independent researchers" access to their data to improve monitoring of coordinated disinformation campaigns.
Responses from Social Media Platforms
TikTok stated it maintains a "longstanding and collaborative relationship" with City Hall and noted that the GLA's research did not incorporate data from its platform.
The company added that it employs specialised teams to detect and remove coordinated inauthentic behaviour and supports independent research by providing UK-based academics access to public data. TikTok also highlighted that content under the hashtag "#LondonTok" offers a "joyful celebration" of the city's diversity.
Meta indicated it is "constantly working to disrupt" coordinated inauthentic behaviour, having removed over 200 such networks globally. The company stated it prohibits fake accounts and artificial content boosting.
A Meta spokesperson said the company is reviewing the GLA research and remains in contact with the mayor's office.
Telegram told the BBC that it supports "peaceful free speech" and that calls to violence are "forbidden and are removed whenever discovered."
Government and Regulatory Responses
The mayor also urged the UK government to adopt a "much tougher approach" by establishing a new central body to protect democracy and empowering regulators such as Ofcom to "hit companies where it hurts" if they fail to act against disinformation.
A spokesperson from 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 holds strong powers to intervene if platforms do not comply.
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