London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and the Greater London Authority faced a sharp escalation of online disinformation targeting the capital between March 2024 and March 2026, according to official reports. The findings reveal a surge in negative portrayals across social media, sparking a £7m countermeasures campaign and drawing criticism from political opponents.
GLA Disinformation Report Details Surging Online Narratives
A Greater London Authority report published in March found that social media users were being actively targeted by disinformation regarding the capital. Online activity describing London as a dangerous city in decline increased by between 150% and 200% over a two-year period ending in March 2026. Furthermore, migration-related narratives referencing London rose by more than 350% during the same timeframe, according to the findings.
Mayoral Response and Countermeasures Against the Outrage Economy
Sir Sadiq Khan launched a £7m campaign in June to showcase London to the world and tackle online disinformation directly. The mayor stated that the city had been subjected to a relentless and unprecedented attack of lies and hatred on social media. Commenting on research from King’s College, Sir Sadiq called the findings a sad indictment of the volume of misinformation and organised disinformation being peddled against the capital.
“For too long we have seen foreign state actors, politicians, bots and others regularly talking down London, taking advantage of the outrage economy which allows people to profit from the poison, algorithms and rage-baiting spread online,” the mayor said. He noted that investment in the Metropolitan Police and the Violence Reduction Unit helped drive a 14% fall in neighbourhood crime. “But I’m clear that one crime is one too many and am determined to build on the progress we have achieved by being tough on crime,” he added, promising support from record investment in front-line policing.
Did You Know? Online activity describing London as a dangerous city in decline increased by between 150% and 200% from March 2024 to March 2026, while migration-related narratives rose by over 350%.
Political Opposition and Diverging Views on City Management
Susan Hall, the leader of the City Hall Tories, previously criticized the mayor’s approach to these challenges. Hall argued that Sir Sadiq “should spend more time trying to fix things as opposed to saying, ‘La la la la la’, I’m not listening, everything’s fine.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Greater London Authority report find regarding online content about London?
A GLA report published in March found that social media users were targeted by disinformation, with online activity describing London as a dangerous city in decline rising between 150% and 200% from March 2024 to March 2026.
How did the mayor respond to the online disinformation?
Sir Sadiq launched a £7m campaign in June to showcase London to the world, tackle online disinformation, and counter what he described as an unprecedented attack of lies and hatred on social media.
What was the criticism from the City Hall Tories?
Susan Hall, the leader of the City Hall Tories, previously stated that the mayor should spend more time trying to fix things rather than ignoring criticism.
How do you think city leaders should balance combating digital disinformation with addressing everyday concerns on the ground?