Authorities in Pakistan have dropped a case against a man who was arrested last week in relation to disinformation thought to have fuelled the recent UK riots. Police said they could not find evidence that Farhan Asif was the originator of the news and so were not continuing with the case.
The unrest broke out in England and Northern Ireland earlier this month, after disinformation spread about the name and identity of the alleged perpetrator of a stabbing attack in Southport in which three young girls died. A BBC investigation had linked Mr Asif to a website called Channel3Now, which posted an article that included a false name for the alleged attacker, and wrongly suggested he was an asylum seeker who arrived in the UK by boat last year.
The false information quickly went viral on social media, leading to widespread chaos and violence in various towns and cities. In Monday’s court session, police revealed that Mr Asif was a freelancer at a private channel and had shared news through a different social media account in the UK. After UK police refuted the false information he had shared, Mr Asif deleted the posts and issued an apology on Channel3now for spreading misinformation.
The judge questioned Mr Asif about the importance of being careful with the information shared online. BBC Verify had previously tracked down individuals linked to Channel3Now, with one claiming that the publication of the false name was an error and not intentional.
The spread of false information following the tragic incident at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class led to violent disorder in Southport and beyond, fueled by misinformation, far-right ideologies, and anti-immigration sentiment. Over 500 people have been charged in connection to the riots, with at least 170 already sentenced, many receiving jail time.
The case against Farhan Asif highlights the impact of disinformation in today’s digital age and the importance of verifying information before sharing it online.
