FM: CRACK DOWN ON XRATED SOCIAL MEDIA

First Minister demands more is done to tackle misinformation | Right wing groups told they will be met by anti-racist protests

- MARK MCGIVERN

SCOTLAND'S First Minister has urged social media giants to crack down on "profoundly dangerous" disinformation amid fears riots could spread to Scotland.

John Swinney demanded social media companies make a "lot of improvement" in blocking "false information" yesterday as concerns were raised over planned right-wing protests this weekend.

The call came after regulatory body Ofcom reminded Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, of their duties to crack down on misinformation.

Several Scottish towns and cities were bracing themselves for far-right protests this weekend.

Scotland has so far avoided the fire-raising, looting and violence that has hit places like Belfast, Leeds, Rotherham and Liverpool.

But shadowy online figures have been trying to organise anti-immigrant gatherings that Police Scotland are monitoring closely.

Swinney said: "I think the social media companies have got a lot of improvement to undertake in their conduct. I was very struck by the communication of Ofcom yesterday, reminding social media companies of their obligation to remove material that incites hatred or violence.

"I don't think that's been the case." Swinney said disinformation had wrongly been spread in relation to a stabbing in Stirling, which had been done to "stir up hatred" against the Muslim community.

This mirrored false and inflammatory stories that emerged after the murders of three children in Southport, an atrocity that acted as a catalyst for the violence in England and Northern Ireland.

Swinney said: "The disinformation can be profoundly dangerous. We had an example at the weekend in Scotland where there was information - false information circulating suggesting a stabbing that had taken place in Stirling had been undertaken by someone from the Muslim community.