Channel3Now

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Channel3Now (also stylised Channel3 NOW) was a website that aggregated crime news stories. [1] The website was created in the summer of 2023, [2] and was linked with fuelling the 2024 United Kingdom riots by posting a false article claiming that the 17-year-old charged in the 2024 Southport stabbing was a Muslim asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK by boat a year prior to the attack. [1]

On 31 July 2024, Channel3Now posted an online statement apologising for publishing misleading information. [3] [4] As of 3 August, its YouTube channel had been suspended, [5] and its website is currently down.

Speculation on connection to Russian state

There have been claims and speculation in the UK press that Channel3Now is a Russian disinformation outlet, [5] including by a former head of MI6 in an interview with The Telegraph . [2] However, an 8 August 2024 BBC News investigation found no evidence to back up the claim of Russian links to the site. [1]

One source of this theory had been the presence of Russian-language content in the history of its YouTube channel. According to a spokesperson for Channel3Now, the site purchased a former Russian-language YouTube channel and changed its name, initially posting video content related to Pakistan. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Spring, Marianna (8 August 2024). "The real story of the news website accused of fuelling riots". BBC News. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  2. 1 2 Wilmot, Claire (2 August 2024). "Did Russian disinformation fuel the Southport protests?". The Bureau of Investigative Journalism . Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  3. "Fact Check: Southport stabbing suspect was born in the UK, say police". Reuters. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  4. "Sincere Apology and Correction Regarding Southport Stabbing Incident". Channel3 NOW. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  5. 1 2 Shirreff, Lauren (3 August 2024). "The obscure Russian-linked 'news' outlet fuelling violence on Britain's streets". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 August 2024.