London Mayor claim massive spending on anti-Ulez social media campaign

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is set to reveal findings of a substantial financial investment in an online campaign against the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) on Twitter. In a conference held in New York, Khan will emphasise the need for social media companies to take responsibility for the spread of disinformation and manipulation campaigns, particularly in the wake of Labour’s unexpected defeat in the Uxbridge byelection.

Research conducted by social media analysts Valent unveils evidence of a significant online campaign aimed at undermining Ulez support, with estimates suggesting a minimum expenditure of £168,000. Khan suspects such tactics could influence future climate and environmental policies, making the anti-Ulez misinformation campaign a potential precursor to more extensive attacks on policy agendas.

Why does it matter?

In this case, the campaign targeted a crucial environmental policy (Ulez), which impacts air quality and public health. Such campaigns can mislead the public, affecting their perception of essential policies and their potential benefits. The problem worsens when large sums of money are funnelled into covert campaigns, making it challenging to trace their origins and motivations. If left unaddressed, it sets a dangerous precedent for using deceptive tactics to undermine environmental policies and other critical policy initiatives.