How to spot fake accounts: Misinformation amid UK riots

In the wake of the recent riots that have erupted across towns and cities in England, concerns have been raised about the role of fake social media accounts in spreading misinformation and inciting violence.

One such account, “barry Ashcroft” (@barryAshcroft4), has come to our attention its high activity, controversial posts, and history of sharing propaganda.

It is our belief that this account is not genuine, and I intend to explain why.

This article is the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the UK Defence Journal. If you would like to submit your own article on this topic or any other, please see our submission guidelines. 

Created in December 2020, the “barry Ashcroft” account has posted an astonishing 118,000 tweets, averaging over 150 tweets per day. This prolific activity raises questions about the account’s authenticity.

Following 4,529 users and amassing 2,956 followers, the account’s metrics are unusual for a typical user, suggesting potential automation or a highly dedicated individual. The profile picture is AI-generated, a common tactic used by fake accounts to avoid identification.

The account’s recent activity reveals a consistent pattern of sharing and amplifying controversial and polarising content. For instance, a recent tweet from the account provocatively stated, “Do they ever protect the people of the United Kingdom 🇬🇧.” This tweet, along with others, appears designed to provoke an emotional response and align with a specific political narrative.

A significant portion of the content shared by “barry Ashcroft” falls into several key categories:

Conspiracy Theories and Misinformation

The account frequently retweets posts that promote conspiracy theories and misinformation. For instance, it has shared tweets from Alex Jones, a known conspiracy theorist, who claimed that the UK is in a state of civil war and alleged Mossad involvement with Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. Such tweets are designed to stoke fear and confusion by presenting unfounded and sensational claims.

Anti-Islamic Sentiment

The account also amplifies anti-Islamic sentiment. Recent retweets include stories about crimes allegedly committed by Muslims, such as an Islamic school head found with weapons and cash.

These posts are aimed at fostering distrust and animosity towards Muslim communities. One such retweet stated, “Islamic school head forced out after weapons and £400,000 cash found at flat.” This type of content is sensational and targeted.

Political Criticism and Polarisation

Political criticism, especially targeting left-leaning figures and policies, is another prominent theme. The account has retweeted multiple posts from US politician JD Vance criticising Kamala Harris for not engaging with the media. These posts are crafted to undermine confidence in political figures and institutions, promoting a divisive and polarising narrative. For example, one tweet read, “It’s been 14 days since Kamala Harris became the presumptive nominee of the Democrat Party and she still hasn’t sat for a single interview with the media.”

Nationalistic and anti-immigration rhetoric is also prevalent. The account frequently retweets posts that promote exclusionary and xenophobic attitudes. For instance, one retweet mocked the contributions of immigrants to British society, stating, “How did Great Britain conquer the world without them oh my! You can self deport at anytime.” This kind of content promotes a narrow, nationalistic view that excludes and vilifies outsiders.

Media Distrust

The account actively undermines trust in established media outlets. It has retweeted calls to boycott mainstream media, such as Sky News. One retweet stated simply, “Boycott Sky.” This content aims to delegitimise traditional media sources and promote alternative, often less reliable, information channels.

Timing and Posting Patterns

The timing and pattern of the account’s posts further suggest potential automation. The account posts consistently throughout the day, with minimal breaks between tweets. Analysis shows that “barry Ashcroft” tweets at regular intervals, with activity recorded every single hour of the day. This relentless posting schedule is highly unusual for a genuine personal account, where posting patterns typically reflect a person’s daily routine and breaks for sleep.

The account’s activity is spread uniformly over 24 hours, indicating either a highly dedicated individual who does not adhere to a typical daily schedule or, more likely, an automated system designed to ensure a constant stream of content. The regularity and volume of posts—averaging over 150 tweets per day—suggest a deliberate strategy to maintain a high level of visibility and engagement.

This continuous and high-frequency posting pattern, combined with the type of content being shared, points towards a deliberate strategy to influence public opinion and amplify specific narratives. Such consistent activity is characteristic of bot-operated accounts, which are programmed to post at set intervals to maximise reach and impact.

The online landscape is changing

The UK government has urged social media companies to take responsibility for amplifying misinformation and encouraging violence after the riots broke out. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasised the role of social media in escalating the situation, stating that platforms have “put rocket boosters” under harmful content.

“Social media has put rocket boosters under some of the, not just misinformation, but the encouragement of violence,” Cooper said. “That is a total disgrace and we cannot carry on like this. So we will also be pursuing this with social media companies.”

The riots, initially sparked by the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport, have led to widespread violence and over 420 arrests. Misinformation about the attacker’s identity spread rapidly online, falsely claiming that he was a Muslim migrant. Axel Rudakubana, the accused, was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and is neither Muslim nor a recent migrant.

Researchers have pointed out that fake accounts like “barry Ashcroft” contribute significantly to the spread of misinformation.

Before the recent focus on the UK riots, “barry Ashcroft” frequently shared content that echoed Russian propaganda, including narratives that undermined Western democracies and promoted pro-Russian stances. This behaviour is consistent with tactics used by state-sponsored disinformation campaigns aiming to destabilise political environments in other countries.

The Online Safety Act, designed to protect users from harmful content, is still being enforced. However, its provisions against misinformation and violence incitement are being tested as social media platforms grapple with the fallout from the riots. The Act grants UK media regulator Ofcom sweeping powers to police tech giants, including imposing hefty fines and criminal liability for senior executives in serious breaches.

Yvette Cooper, reflecting on the broader implications, noted in the Financial Times: “A longer-term debate about the wider legal framework for tackling online misinformation is now required.” Social media algorithms have been found to play a significant role in amplifying such content.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue discovered that users searching for “Southport” on TikTok were still shown false names hours after police corrected the information. On X, the false name trended as a topic despite being debunked.

The “barry Ashcroft” account shows several signs of being a fake or automated account: an unusually high volume of tweets, non-stop posting around the clock, an AI-generated profile picture, and a consistent pattern of sharing controversial and polarising content.

The account’s focus on conspiracy theories, anti-Islamic sentiment, political criticism, nationalistic rhetoric, and media distrust, combined with its automated posting behaviour, strongly suggests it is not a genuine personal account but rather part of a deliberate strategy to spread misinformation and influence public opinion.

The account exemplifies the challenges faced by social media platforms and regulators in combating misinformation. Its consistent, high-frequency posting pattern, combined with the type of content being shared, points towards potential automation and a deliberate strategy to spread misinformation and polarising content.

This behaviour is particularly concerning in the context of the recent UK riots, where social media has played a significant role in amplifying unrest and misinformation. Social media companies must act swiftly to curb the spread of harmful content and protect public discourse from being hijacked by inauthentic actors.

For clarity, the account ignored our attempt to communicate and kept posting.