Prince Harry raises concern over misinformation on social media, says 'we are no longer debating facts'
BOGOTA, COLUMBIA: Prince Harry seemed to have taken a dig at X owner Elon Musk after his country recently witnessed Southport riots.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle are presently on a four-day quasi-royal tour of Columbia.
Prince Harry speaks at Responsible Digital Future forum
During the event 'The Responsible Digital Future' forum, Prince Harry told audience that fake news has largely contributed to the violence in Britain, referring to social media.
“What happens online within a matter of minutes transfers to the streets. People are acting on information that isn't true,” he said on Thursday, August 15.
According to reports, 80 adults have been sentenced after violence broke down in different parts of the UK amid the murder of three girls in Southport on July 29, reports Daily Mail.
The violence in towns and cities across England and in Northern Ireland has been fuelled by misinformation.
The Royal also emphasized that many people were “scared and uncertain” about the impact of AI and suggested that “education and awareness” would help in handling misinformation.
Elon Musk faces criticism over fake news shared on X
Elon Musk has come under severe pressure and is being accused that his platform is spreading fake stories. He himself was a victim of misinformation after he shared a photo of Sir Keir Starmer looking at detainment camps for rioters.
Harry continued, “It comes down to all of us to be able to spot the true from the fake. In an ideal world those with positions of influence would take more responsibility.”
“We are no longer debating facts. For as long as people are allowed to spread lies, abuse, harass, then social cohesion as we know it has completely broken down,” he further said during ‘The Responsible Digital Future' forum in Bogota.
Prince Harry shared his concern over the authenticity of news stories on social media."It's becoming harder and harder to stem the flow from the source, spotting true from fake comes down to us," he said.
“One of my biggest worries is that for social media being what it is we will forever be divided, we are debating misinterpretation, and we are being misled, misleading each other,” he further said.
“While we are debating and discussing how to solve the problems of digital media a very small group of powerful people are getting richer and richer and that is a fundamental flaw in the system,” Harry pointed out.
