UK Schoolchildren To Be Trained In Spotting Fake News Amid Anti-Immigrant Riots

Far-right groups across the United Kingdom started anti-immigration riots after false claims that a Muslim refugee was behind a fatal stabbing that claimed the lives of three young girls in Southport. Violent and destructive demonstrations have spread out in the country, fuelled by misinformation spread on social media. To curb this, the government's Department of Education is reportedly launching a curriculum to train students in spotting fake and extremist news.

Schools To Train In Spotting Fake News

Gavin Stephens, chief constable, of the National Police Chiefs' Council, wrote in a Daily Telegraph article about the disinformation being rampantly shared amid the riots. "How we behave online is not abstract. It has real-world consequences. Perhaps we should be deleting a lot more than we share," he cautioned.

Stephens wrote, "What has struck me during the disorder is how vulnerable we all are to disinformation and vile hatred online. We have spoken in recent years about how to keep our children safe online, and what we have learned is that left unchecked, misinformation can undermine all our safety."

Thus, schoolchildren in the country may now analyse articles in English lessons to isolate fabricated content. Secretary of Education Bridget Phillipson told the outlet "It's more important than ever that we give young people the knowledge and skills to be able to challenge what they see online."

She added, "Our curriculum review will develop plans to embed critical skills in lessons to arm our children against the disinformation, fake news and putrid conspiracy theories awash on social media." She emphasised the importance of equipping schoolchildren to engage with the content online critically.

Phillipson asserted, "Our renewed curriculum will always put high and rising standards in core subjects first - that's non-negotiable. We will also create a broad curriculum that widens access to cultural subjects and gives pupils the knowledge and skills they need to thrive at work and throughout life."

What Is Happening In The UK?

The UK is currently witnessing one of the worst unrests in recent years since the killing of three young girls, all below the age of 9, at a dance party in July 2024. A (then) 17-year-old boy was charged with the crime. The suspect has also been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder.

Soon, false claims spread that the suspect is a Muslim refugee who recently arrived in the country illegally on a boat. Far-right demonstrators began holding anti-immigration protests, with reports of clashes, arson and vandalism in major cities such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, and more.

The rioters targeted mosques and homes of immigrants/people of colour around Southport. To curb the false news, the Liverpool Crown Court released the suspect's identity on August 7, the day he turned 18. The suspect is Axel Rudakubana, a British national of Rwandan origin who was born in Cardiff.

Despite this, the attacks on people of colour continued. According to reports, at least 600 rioters have been arrested and about 150 have been charged. Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised communities they "will be safe", as he ordered the deployment of 6,000 specialist police officers to quell unrest.

My number one priority is to make sure our communities are safe.

Thanks to our police forces, those who participate in violence online and offline will face the full force of the law. pic.twitter.com/hIaZ8pAzrY

— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 9, 2024

The PM deemed the riots as "far-right thuggery", and asserted that those responsible for spreading fake news and violence will "face the full force of the law." Recently, peaceful anti-racism protests have erupted across the country to counter the far-right's attacks on people of colour and immigrants.