How TikTok bots and AI have powered a resurgence in UK far-right violence

Less than three hours after the stabbing attack on Monday that led to the death of three children, an AI-generated image was shared on X by an account called Europe Invasion. It depicted bearded men in traditional Muslim dress outside the Houses of Parliament, one waving a knife, behind a crying child in a union jack T-shirt.

The tweet, which has since been viewed 900,000 times, was captioned: “We must protect our children!” and shared by one of the most potent accounts for misinformation about the #Southport stabbings.

Experts have warned that new tools and ways of organising have seen Britain’s fractured far right exploit the Southport attack to unify and rejuvenate its presence on the streets.

In a surge of activity not seen for years, more than 10 protests are being promoted across social media platforms such as X, TikTok and Facebook in the aftermath of violent disorder up and down the country.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/aug/02/how-tiktok-bots-and-ai-have-powered-a-resurgence-in-uk-far-right-violence

#UK #UnitedKingdom #FarRight #fascism #fascist #England #AI #SocialMedia #Muslim #stabbing #violence

Britain seems stuck in a doom loop of poverty. I have a plan to raise billions to address that

But how to fix it? Three seismic shifts have unfolded over the last decade.

First, the welfare safety net has been systematically shredded, with the government abandoning responsibilities taken for granted since 1945.

Second, charities and food banks, which have taken over from universal credit as the last line of defence, are exhausted and justifiably angry about having to pick up the pieces with insufficient resources. They even fear their desperate relief efforts could provide cover for the government walking further away.

Third, unsure how they fit into a poverty-free, pollution-free future, the corporate sector has in the last decade donated less, not more.

Yet the many business leaders who are now championing a greater sense of environmental and social responsibility know they can, and should, play a bigger role.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/27/britain-seems-stuck-in-a-doom-loop-of-poverty-i-have-a-plan-to-raise-billions-to-address-that

#UnitedKingdom #poverty #hunger #FoodBanks #ToryScum #UK #ToryCorruption #CutsKill #ToryCorruption #ToryFascism