In what has become an especially infamous episode of mis/disinformation, at around 14.40 on 22 March 2017, rumours about the possible identity of the attacker emerged on social media and were rapidly amplified by news and broadcast media. H…repeated at the start of Channel 4 News that evening, with the presenter stating:
“A source has told this programme tonight that the attacker is a man called Trevor Brooks, better known as Abu Izzadeen, a well-known member of the now disba…
Trevor Brooks
historical · 2 mentions across 1 reading
In this course
Trevor Brooks, known by the alias Abu Izzadeen, appears in the course readings as a case study in how misinformation cascades through social and broadcast media during moments of crisis. The excerpts document how unverified rumors about his identity as the perpetrator of a 2017 attack were rapidly amplified by major news outlets, despite lacking confirmation, illustrating the failure of institutional gatekeepers to verify claims before amplification. This example grounds discussions of algorithmic spread and human editorial judgment in concrete recent history, showing how both social platforms and traditional media can participate in the same informational pathologies.
Mentioned in 1 reading
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