Experts issue warning as misinformation quadruples ahead of Makerfield by-election

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleMisinformation in local Facebook groups has quadrupled ahead of the crucial Makerfield by-election, according to new research. The Social Market Foundation found that the rate of misinformation, including AI fakes, rose from 0.3 per cent to 5.7 per cent, with Andy Burnham being the key target. Almost all identified misinformation was anti-Labour or pro-Reform, featuring false claims about Mr Burnham and AI-generated images. Experts warn that the decline in local news outlets makes social media a primary information source, increasing the impact of such fake news. The think tank has called for social media platforms to increase moderation to limit the spread of misinformation during elections. In fullMakerfield by-election voters ‘heavily targeted’ with misinformation and AI fakesThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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