This escalated into days of riots in the U.K. that saw attacks on mosques, immigration centers and hotels that house asylum seekers. The disinformation circulated online tapped into pre-existing biases and prejudice, Ondrak explained, adding that incorrect reports often thrive at times of heightened emotions. Many of the right-wing protestors claim the high number of migrants in the U.K. fuels crime and violence. Ondrak also noted that many groups that had previously circulated false information about the attack had started walking it back, saying it was a hoax. On Wednesday, the U.K. media regulator Ofcom issued a letter to social media platforms saying they shouldn't wait for the new law to come into force.

---

Persons: Christopher Furlong, Ali, Hannah Rose, Joe Ondrak, It's, Ondrak, it's, ISD's Rose, Rose, Thabo Jaiyesimi, Elon Musk, pushback, Benjamin Cremel Organizations: Riot, Getty, LinkedIn, Institute for Strategic, CNBC, Police, Telegram, Ofcom, Afp Locations: Rotherham, United Kingdom, Southport, Britain, U.K, Walthamstow, London