Online misinformation: Are governments doing enough to hold social media giants accountable?

Cianan Brennan compares Ireland’s and Britain’s responses to the posting of misinformation and to related social unrest and asks whether social media platforms are fulfilling their responsibilities

One constant between Ireland and Britain is the use of social media to foster trouble, often via blatant disinformation.

The recent public unrest in Britain proved something of a litmus test for the British government in terms of how willing it was to go toe-to-toe with the current culture of misinformation and social agitation which led to the worst riots seen in that country for over a decade.

After days of severe rioting, police forces around Britain made one thing clear — justice would be swift, and those who had misguidedly got themselves involved in the mayhem would come to rue their decision.