Social Media Surveillance of „Misinformation Narratives“ Secured by U.K. Government with £600,000 Contract

Introduction

The UK government has awarded a £600,000 contract to a company called Faculty to monitor social media for „misinformation narratives“ related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract was awarded by the Cabinet Office’s Rapid Response Unit, which was set up last year to tackle misinformation about the pandemic.

What is Faculty?

Faculty is a London-based artificial intelligence company that specializes in data science and machine learning. The company has worked with the UK government before, providing data analysis services for the NHS during the pandemic. Faculty has also been involved in controversial projects, such as working with the Vote Leave campaign during the Brexit referendum.

What does the contract involve?

The contract with Faculty involves monitoring social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for „misinformation narratives“ related to COVID-19. The company will use its machine learning algorithms to identify and analyze posts that contain false or misleading information about the pandemic. The aim is to identify trends and patterns in the spread of misinformation, and to provide the government with insights that can be used to counter it.

The contract has raised concerns among civil liberties groups, who argue that it could be used to stifle free speech and target individuals who express dissenting views. The government has defended the contract, saying that it is necessary to combat the spread of false information about the pandemic, which can have serious public health consequences.

Conclusion

The UK government’s contract with Faculty to monitor social media for „misinformation narratives“ related to COVID-19 has sparked controversy. While the government argues that it is necessary to combat the spread of false information about the pandemic, civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the potential for the contract to be used to stifle free speech and target individuals who express dissenting views.

The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor social media is a growing trend, with governments and companies around the world investing in these technologies to gain insights into public opinion and sentiment. However, the use of these technologies also raises important ethical and legal questions, particularly around privacy and freedom of expression.

As the use of AI and machine learning in social media monitoring continues to grow, it is important that governments and companies are transparent about their methods and accountable for their actions. This will help to ensure that these technologies are used in ways that are ethical, legal, and respectful of human rights

Original article Teaser

U.K. Government’s £600,000 Contract for Social Media Surveillance Of “Misinformation Narratives”

The U.K. Government is set to spend £600,000 ($755,000) on social media surveillance to identify “harmful disinformation and misinformation narratives”. Reclaim the Net has the story. This is revealed in a notice posted on the Government’s Contracts Finder site that contains information about contracts whose value exceeds the equivalent of $15,000. It shows the authorities are looking for a “misinformation and disinformation monitoring and analysis service”. This current call for tender is the work of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and was published on April 23rd, closing a month later. … The announcement states that the place of performance of the contract will be the U.K., while the duration will be nine months, with the possibility of renewal. The

Details to U.K. Government’s £600,000 Contract for Social Media Surveillance Of “Misinformation Narratives”