UK Anti-Immigration Accounts Drew 20 Million Views From Sri Lanka and Vietnam Using AI
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 15
UK Anti-Immigration Accounts Drew 20 Million Views From Sri Lanka and Vietnam Using AI
2 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 15
Dozens of Facebook and Instagram accounts posing as British voices were traced to Sri Lanka, Vietnam and other countries, with one network alone amassing more than 20 million views through AI-made anti-immigration videos.
Meta transparency tools, creator interviews and account patterns linked the pages to operators overseas who often repurposed old US-themed accounts, then pushed fake scenes of a Muslim-majority future Britain to drive engagement.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said City Hall research found a sharp rise in such posts over two years, driven by both profit-seeking operators and suspected state-backed influence campaigns tied to Russia, China and Iran.
Experts said people detect deepfakes only about 55% of the time and may distrust authentic material after repeated exposure, while some viewers shared and endorsed the clips even when they suspected they were AI.
As AI deepfakes flood social media, how can anyone trust what they see and hear online anymore?
With disinformation now a global industry, can laws ever truly catch up to the pace of AI?
AI-Driven Disinformation in the UK: Deepfake Incidents Surge Nearly 1000% in 2025, Threatening Democracy and Public Trust
Overview
The United Kingdom is facing a growing threat from foreign-operated, AI-powered disinformation networks that use low-cost content farms and advanced AI engagement strategies to influence public opinion. These networks often disguise themselves as authentically British, as seen with the 'Patriots of Britain' page, which spread inflammatory content before being shut down. The rapid advancement of generative AI has made it easier for more actors to create convincing fake images and videos, leading to a surge in political deepfakes and foreign meddling in UK elections. This escalating challenge has prompted urgent government action to protect democratic processes.