Social media platforms were today accused of promoting conspiracy theories about the Princess of Wales over factual content to keep the public hooked.
Imran Ahmed, an expert on combating online extremism, led the protest and claimed that the platforms were guilty of this practice to sell more ads.
It comes after the princess’s decision to announce her cancer diagnosis has failed to stop the frenzied conspiracy theories being peddled in recent weeks.
Despite Kate delivering an emotional video message last Friday night, outlandish and cruel claims against the 42-year-old have continued to rise online.
Social media companies are now being urged to clamp down on the vitriol, as critics claimed the vile trolling had “re-victimized” the cancer-stricken princess and constituted a “gangster-style tactic” to force her to disclose more information.
Imran Ahmed, a leading expert on countering online extremism, said the platforms were guilty of promoting conspiracy theories over factual content to keep audiences hooked.
This follows intense speculation and pressure over Kate’s health and whereabouts before Kensington Palace released the video statement last week. And it comes amid fears that China, Russia and Iran are fueling wild conspiracy theories.
Ahmed, executive director of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said: “There is an algorithmic acceleration of conspiracy theories, hate and misinformation over accurate information and calls for support because that is what keeps audiences captive.” .
He said Kate had been “revictimized” for not sharing her private medical information immediately and was now being subjected to “gangster-style tactics” to disclose more.
“It’s morally outrageous… social media platforms have compounded the harm caused to that family in what is already an incredibly difficult time,” Ahmed said.
Their concerns were echoed by Bruce Daisley, Twitter’s former UK and European boss, who said the “serious problem” was how X’s algorithms promote untrustworthy content.
Damian Collins, the Conservative MP who previously chaired the digital, culture, media and sport committee, also criticized social media platforms for deliberately promoting false content.
March 10: Kensington Palace releases the first photo of Kate since her abdominal surgery.
“If a clickbait story, based on conspiracy theories, captures people’s attention, then they are more interested in that than in promoting news,” he said.
Labor Party chair Anneliese Dodds criticized tech bosses for failing to take action against trolls.
She told GB News that speculation about the princess online was “outrageous”, adding: “It must have been extremely distressing for her.”
“We think more needs to be done, especially when it comes to the kind of online abuse we see repeatedly directed, most of the time, at women…”
Within minutes of Kate’s announcement, trolls began spreading strange posts that her video was generated by AI, while others criticized her for not making it public sooner.
The sickening uploads featured Dr Kate’s heartfelt message with the faces of Princess Diana or the Duchess of Sussex to demonstrate how easily a deepfake can be created.
The Prince of Wales has also been the target of trolls asking why he didn’t sit next to his wife while she filmed the emotional video.
Fueling the fire 30 minutes into the broadcast, Christopher Bouzy, an avid supporter of Harry and Meghan, ranted to his 350,000 followers on X.
Christopher Bouzy (pictured in Netflix’s Harry and Meghan documentary) bizarrely claimed Kate’s diagnosis meant recent photos were fake amid ‘North Korea’ style propaganda.
Dr Jonathan Reiner claimed the Princess of Wales’ statement made “no medical sense”
The chief technology officer bizarrely claimed that Kate’s diagnosis meant the recent photos were fake and accused the palace of “North Korea”-style propaganda.
“I’m sorry to hear that Kate has cancer, I hope she makes a full recovery. But it’s also clear that the three previous photos of her were fake and the palace tried to cover it up,” he wrote.
Bouzy, who appeared on the Sussexes’ Netflix show, was apparently referencing Kate’s Mother’s Day photo, a video of her shopping in Windsor and an image of her being driven around in a car.
The 48-year-old added: “The palace lied, and the British press happily helped them lie.” The countless ‘conspiracy theory’ headlines, even though they knew much of what was being said was true. “This is really some kind of North Korean/Trumpian propaganda.”
He went on to accuse Prince William of throwing his wife “under the bus” over the doctored Mother’s Day portrait and said he had not backed her in her announcement.
He was one of the conspiracy theorists who released a CNN clip, which has now been viewed millions of times, in which a doctor claimed that Kate’s statement made “no medical sense.”
December 25, 2023: Kate was last seen with her family attending church in Sandringham.
When asked how cancer could be found after surgery, Jonathan Reiner said: “With all due respect to the Royal Family, that kind of press release doesn’t make much medical sense.”
The George Washington University professor of medicine said such operations are preceded by extensive CT scans and MRIs, adding that it was “very likely” that the surgical team knew about the cancer before operating.
Several blushing celebrities and commentators, including Blake Lively and Kerry Katona, have apologized for their careless comments about Kate.
Others have faced pressure to do the same, including Kim Kardashian, who previously uploaded a photo of herself next to her car with the caption “on my way to pick up Kate.”
Paddy Harverson, former official spokesman for Kate and the Prince of Wales, said the online attack on her was the worst he had ever witnessed.
“It’s kind of a permanent vicious circle. And it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” she told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg.
MailOnline has contacted Meta, TikTok and X for comment.