Experts issue warning as Facebook misinformation quadruples ahead of crucial Makerfield by-election

• Misinformation in local Facebook groups has quadrupled ahead of the crucial Makerfield by-election, according to new research.
• The Social Market Foundation found that the rate of misinformation, including AI fakes, rose from 0.3 per cent to 5.7 per cent, with Andy Burnham being the key target.
• Almost all identified misinformation was anti-Labour or pro-Reform, featuring false claims about Mr Burnham and AI-generated images.
• Experts warn that the decline in local news outlets makes social media a primary information source, increasing the impact of such fake news.
• The think tank has called for social media platforms to increase moderation to limit the spread of misinformation during elections.

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Makerfield by-election voters ‘heavily targeted’ with misinformation and AI fakes