The UK’s regulatory framework for online safety is often criticized as “siloed,” meaning it operates separately from social media and digital platforms, rather than integrating these technologies. At the heart of this characterization is the Online Safety Act (OSA), which was launched to protect digital content but has faced significant challenges. Recent-plugine disinformation that targeted immigrants and highlighted crime figures in the UK has provokers to question why the system prioritizes engagement over actual harm. This issue underscores a broader critique of the OSA’s insufficiently designed role in addressing sophisticated disinformation tactics.
Disinformation, in this context, is not merely harmful content; it is an engineered system that manipulates online communities to spread misinformation that can have real-world consequences. It involves emotionally charged narratives, diverse voices, and intricate mechanisms where algorithms amplify falsehoods theyocrimed to manipulate public trust. For example, false claims about immigration <
