It’s my birthday - and next ep of Why Do You Hate Me pod, where I investigate extraordinary cases of online hate!

With exclusive access to Premier League troll-busting team, I explore rise in hate targeting both players & their families - like Neal Maupay. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…
For the Radio 4 podcast, I go inside the Premier league team tracking down players’ abusers, talk to striker Neal Maupay about social media abuse & tracks down the man they helped convict for threatening him. Also a series for iPlayer, online & News at Ten.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

Social media has been awash with false claims, conspiracies and hate surrounding what's happening in Israel and Gaza - and questions over whether inauthentic accounts are manipulating the conversation.

I've been investigating who is behind this - and why. bbc.co.uk/news/world-mid…
The denial playbook is out in full force online, used to cast doubt on whether some Israeli hostages are really civilians - or claiming Palestinian people in Gaza are faking injuries.

Sometimes the source is obvious, but at other times it’s less evident. bbc.co.uk/news/world-mid…

“80% of online abuse received by BBC journalists is directed at one woman: the corporation’s 27-year-old disinformation correspondent.”

Brilliant to speak to Sunday Times Mag on investigating disinfo, hate, social media & Radio 4’s Marianna in Conspiracyland pod! New ep later.

Go buy a paper or read here! Wonderful to be interviewed by @phoebeluckhurst & photographed by Sane Seven.

Trolls are the price of investigating and exposing world of social media, conspiracies and hate! Grateful to editors and teams who support me.
thetimes.co.uk/article/the-bb…

EXCL - UK conspiracy theory newspaper sharing calls for trials & executions has links with far-right and German publication connected to a failed coup, the BBC can reveal.

My Radio 4 pod Marianna in Conspiracyland takes me from Totnes across UK to Berlin. tinyurl.com/mvdrhsw4 🚨 10 ep Radio 4 pod series revealing radicalisation of UK conspiracy theory movement, interrogating paper at its heart & exposing connections and harm on BBC Sounds.

With top @CloseEm @SamBonham @philipkmar @OLaceEvans & brill @Rhiroberts & Nathan Jones.tinyurl.com/575h638m

It’s not every day that Musk tweets you.

Go watch BBC Panorama on iPlayer - where Twitter insiders tell me its no longer able to protect users from trolling, state-backed disinfo and child exploitation under Musk. Backed up by data & users’ testimony. bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod… 🎬 Produced & directed by brilliant @AlysEliza 🎥 Shot by fab @tomtraies & shooting prod @OLaceEvans📱top AP @EamonnPTWalsh
Exec Leo Telling & Editor Karen Wightman.

Big thanks to current & former insiders & Twitter users who trusted us to investigate.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episod…

EXCL: Twitter insiders have told me and BBC Panorama it’s no longer able to protect users from trolling, state-co-ordinated disinformation and child exploitation. Exclusive data and Twitter users’ testimony suggests hate & trolls are thriving. BBC One, 8PM.bbc.co.uk/news/technolog… Current and former Twitter employees have revealed features intended to protect Twitter users from harassment are proving difficult to maintain, amid what they describe as a chaotic working environment where Musk is shadowed by bodyguards at all times. bbc.co.uk/news/technolog…

EXCL: Conspiracy theorists, who claim UK terror attacks are staged, are tracking down survivors to homes and workplaces to see if they’re lying about injuries. And abuse is getting worse post-pandemic. I’ve investigated for BBC Panorama & Radio 4 podcasts. bbc.com/news/uk-634126… Now one survivor of Manchester Arena bombing is preparing libel action against a man who says he’s spied on victims. Conspiracies and tactics like his are emblematic of a wider phenomenon survivors and bereaved families are experiencing.

More on yday’s News at Ten & across BBC.

🚨 Meet the BBC’s undercover US Voters!

For Americast and Newsnight, I’ve created five characters - informed by research from Pew - to investigate what voters are exposed to and recommended across social media at a turbulent time for US politics.

bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-… Learn all about who they are & what they’ve seen so far on the first episode of the new-look Americast podcast & on Newsnight last night.

The characters reflect views across the political spectrum in the US and have 5 social media profiles. bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0…

EXCL 🚨 For Panorama, I expose how social media sites recommend violent videos & knives for sale to a 13-year-old’s account and investigate the disturbing online world Olly stephens was exposed to before he was murdered.

BBC One tonight & across BBC News. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-618139… Stabbed by two teenagers, the entire attack on Olly was planned on social media. What are 13-year-old’s exposed to online? With exclusive access to Stuart & Amanda, I set out to uncover that.

With top team @AlysEliza @Alice_Journo @tomtraies bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

Violent language like this has increasingly been adopted by anti-vax activists online and off.

It's used to target politicians, doctors - and reporters like me.

I covered the start of this radicalisation to violence for Newsnight.

bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-577…

https://twitter.com/habibi_uk/status/1472280608709783563

The Met has said it will investigate after wide-spread condemnation of this clip.

Similar to when another anti-vax activist compared Doctors to Nazis tried for war crimes.

We've seen how this violent language can fuel unrest on the streets, too.

Anti-vax activists are exploiting the drive for boosters.

Lots of people have asked how to speak to a relative scared off the jab by conspiracies on social media - which often exploit distrust and concerns.

Here's my reporting that might help!
bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-tre… 1⃣ Remind them how these activists exploit confusion, criticism and unrest.

We've seen that happen during anti-lockdown rallies across Europe - including in Holland, which I investigated for Newsnight.

Conspiracies are accompanied by violent rhetoric.

bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0b…

I’ve spent the day reporting across broadcast about condemnation of comments from a former nurse who likened NHS doctors to executed Nazi’s.

Her son has spoken out over fears she could inspire violence in a protest movement muddled with online conspiracies.

With @reetacbbc 📺 Where is the movement that she’s a part of headed?

Experts have warned of a radicalisation to violence happening - with increased discussion of executions and Nuremberg trials both online and off.

More analysis here and I covered this for Newsnight 👉bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-577…

Comments from a former Nurse at a rally likening NHS doctors to executed Nazis have been widely condemned.

I spoke to @BBCr4today about how this protest movement is muddled with online conspiracies and violent threats.

Her son Sebastian joins, calling for her to be prosecuted. I first interviewed Sebastian last year as his mum became one of the leader's of Britain's conspiracy community.

He feared for her impact on public health - and their relationship. Now he worries about her inspiring violence. bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-546…

Anti-lockdown protesters have again gathered in central London - even though restrictions have lifted.

Opposition to vaccine passports has become muddled with online conspiracies.

As I reported for Newsnight, this movement is about more than Covid-19. bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-577… Several speakers at rally well-known for promoting conspiracies about the pandemic online.

That includes former nurse Kate Shemirani - who has been struck off.

I interviewed her son - and spoke to her for a Panorama investigation into antivax tactics. bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-546…

NEW - After I posted about coordinated abuse I receive as the BBC’s specialist disinformation and social media reporter, my inbox was full of pleas from those in and outside the public eye experiencing online harassment.

My advice - and analysis of boycotts in @theipaper today. I discuss the mantra “don’t feed the trolls” - with analysis and research from @julieposetti @lahnabee

Whether overhauling our attitudes to trolling on social media is part of the answer is a question I’ll be investigating in the coming months.

inews.co.uk/news/technolog…

After reporting first-hand on online conspiracy theories about covid promoted at protests, I have been bombarded with horrific abuse and threats.

I am very happy the BBC has a specialist disinformation reporter investigating their impact. No-one should receive this vitriol. I’m very used to it. But this has been extreme and coordinated - this is just a fraction.

Harmful online conspiracies about COVID and vaccines infected protests, different to medical and political debates also promoted - my job is to report on their real-world consequences.

Anti-lockdown protesters - predominantly organised in Telegram channels promoting conspiracy theories about vaccines and pandemic are marching in Central London.

There are placards claiming covid is a hoax, “the experimental vaccine kills” and the QAnon “Save Our Children”. Lots of opposition to vaccine passports - including on this giant inflatable jab and placards about freedom, along with more extreme conspiracy theories about vaccines used to “kill”, covid being a hoax and New World Order.

NEW - Facebook has taken down a private group with over 100,000 members dedicated to unverifiable, emotive stories alleging people had been harmed by COVID-19 vaccines.

The group featured some extreme conspiracy theories about depopulation agendas and sinister global plots. A combination of very sad, true personal stories where link to the vaccine was unclear - but contrary to statistics.

Other posts were from committed anti-vax activists, making unsubstantiated claims.

The result? Very scary posts daily alleging wide-spread horrific injuries.

After this report, I've been inundated with messages from families impacted by online conspiracy theories.

In the spirit of being BBC's conspiracy agony aunt - as much as its specialist disinformation reporter - a thread on another heartbreaking story.
bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-567… A woman got in touch with me about how her dad - in his seventies - has fallen deep down the online conspiracy rabbit hole, especially during lockdown - and is taking her mum with her.

It started with extreme online conspiracies about the Deep State around 5 years ago.

I recently wrote that rather that just being the BBC’s specialist disinformation reporter - I’m it’s conspiracy agony aunt.

In that spirit, I’m going to start regularly sharing stories of those impacted by online conspiracies - and my advice👇

thetimes.co.uk/article/my-cra… A lot of these stories inspire reports and investigations I am working on.

I receive so many messages each week, I want to highlight the scale of the damage done to relationships and individuals.

And also share possible advice for others impacted in the same way.

I wrote for The Sunday Times News Review about my first year as the BBC’s Specialist disinformation reporter.

I have tried to meet and interview the people impacted by, falling for and spreading online conspiracies. Here’s what it’s taught me!

thetimes.co.uk/article/my-cra… The focus of my job is to humanise disinformation and investigate its impact - with a top team of experts and editors at BBC News.

As soon as my reports appeared on TV, radio and online, I became, in effect, the BBC’s first online conspiracy agony aunt. Go buy a paper!