The Guardian view on Henry Nowak’s murder: big tech and the far right are allied in an outrage arms race
Anger and distress at the treatment of the stabbed teenager is widely shared. But the online amplification of myths and grievances must be tackled
TL;DR
- Henry Nowak, a stabbed teenager, died after begging officers for help while handcuffed, as captured on police body-cam footage.
- Outrage over Nowak's death is being weaponized by "unscrupulous" actors to spread myths about "two-tier policing" and mobilize politically along racial and religious lines.
- Figures like Nigel Farage and Elon Musk have used the incident to inflame emotions and promote conspiracist rhetoric, including claims of "ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing".
- The economic incentives of big tech companies, focused on maximizing user engagement, have led them to promote grievance and tribalism, aligning with the political strategies of the far-right.
- The article calls for effective regulation of social media, highlighting the EU's Digital Services Act as a step towards addressing systemic risks like disinformation and algorithmic recommendations.