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Ofcom needs more powers to remove misleading posts, says watchdog

It says the 2024 summer riots showed the regulator does not have the tools to stop the spread of viral misinformation.

Sir Andy made the remarks as His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services published its second report on the police response to the riots, focussing on the impact of social media. Sir Andy said police had missed opportunities to prepare for widespread disorder, and earlier incidents involving "extreme nationalist sentiment" had been underestimated. In the new report, he said some police forces were found to have "exceptionally limited" ability to deal with online posts due to a lack of resources.

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