Conservative Party Linked to Secret Facebook Groups Promoting Racism and Misinformation
A recent investigation has uncovered a network of 36 Facebook groups allegedly operated by Conservative party staff and activists. These groups, with a combined membership of 38,000, have become a breeding ground for racism, misinformation, and support for criminal damage.
The groups, which appear to be grassroots movements opposing the expansion of ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) schemes to reduce air pollution, have been used to launch Islamophobic attacks on Labour’s London mayor Sadiq Khan. Members have called him a “terrorist sympathiser” and a “khaki punt,” with some even expressing a desire to see him harmed.
Additionally, posts in these groups promote white supremacist slogans, antisemitic conspiracy theories, and encourage the destruction of Ulez enforcement cameras. The findings, shared by Greenpeace’s investigative unit, Unearthed, have raised questions about transparency and the involvement of senior Tories in these groups.
Despite the Conservative party distancing itself from the racist and abusive comments, several Conservative MPs and employees have been found to be members of these groups. The party has pledged to review its processes and policies regarding Facebook groups in light of these revelations.
Critics have condemned the groups for spreading hate speech and dangerous conspiracy theories for short-term political gain. Labour is considering reporting some of the content to the police, while experts warn that these tactics are reminiscent of the divisive messaging used during the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
With private Facebook groups providing a platform for targeted political messaging with minimal scrutiny, the role of social media platforms like Meta (formerly Facebook) in regulating such content has come under scrutiny. The investigation sheds light on the dark side of online political campaigning and the challenges of combating misinformation and extremism in the digital age.