Riots in the UK and Disinformation: Extremists Mobilised on Russian Messenger Telegram and Elon Musk Spread Fake News on X

Waves of riots have swept across the UK, organised by far-right extremist groups on the Russian fringe social network Telegram, where rioters discussed attacks on immigration centres and exchanged instructions for making petrol bombs. 

In turn, on Thursday, Elon Musk, the owner of the social network X (Twitter), spread fake news claiming that the rioters in the UK would be sent to "camps". He then removed the completely fabricated headline, which was pushed by a far-right political party.

Social media platforms have faced harsh criticism for posting extremist rhetoric that fuelled violent riots following the murder of three children in Southport in a knife attack in late July.

But while Elon Musk's provocations on X (formerly Twitter) have garnered attention, right-wing agitators have long enjoyed unprecedented levels of impunity on Russian Telegram.

Channels set up on the Russian messenger Telegram after the Southport killings attracted tens of thousands of members and were used to mobilise far-right rioters. The locations shared on the app were aimed at mass violence and destruction of property, including a mosque in Southport. 

On Sunday, rioters attempted to set fire to two migrant accommodation in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and Tamworth, Staffordshire. 

Since then, Telegram has shut down some of the most egregious channels, including one called "Southport Wake Up", which had attracted more than 13,000 participants. 

"Telegram allows for peaceful expression regardless of political affiliation, but calls for violence are expressly prohibited by Telegram's terms of use," the company said in a statement.

The unusual move was likely due to the channels containing material that could be considered "terrorist," said Tim Squirell, communications director at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a nonprofit organisation that analyses extremism.