Russian bots tried to influence UK general election: Report
London, April 29: Russian Twitter bots attempted to influence the 2017 UK general election results by promoting Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times.
Conducted in conjunction with Swansea University, the research discovered that in the run up to the election, 6,500 Russian Twitter accounts, many of which are run by Internet robots known as "bots", supported the Labour Party.
It has been claimed that most of these accounts, which tried to denigrate the Conservative rivals, were created just weeks before the polling day.
The Labour Party denied any wrongdoing and said that its "people-powered election campaign" was the reason for its success.
"The Labour Party's people-powered election campaign attracted huge levels of public support online. We were not aware of any from automated bots, categorically did not pay for any and are not aware of any of our supporters doing so," a Labour Party spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
The election saw Corbyn's Labour Party increase its tally by 31 seats. Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a major setback and lost her parliamentary majority in the election.
Urging Twitter to act to prevent such interference in the country's election in the future, UK's digital and culture secretary Matthew Hancock said the revelations are "extremely concerning".
"It is absolutely unacceptable for any nation to attempt to interfere in the democratic elections of another country," he told The Sunday Times.
"The social media companies need to act to safeguard our democratic discourse and reveal what they know," Hancock said.
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Barakah International School to organise free parenting workshop on 16th January
Mangaluru: Barakah International School and College is organising a unique free workshop for parents, aimed at providing guidance on various aspects of parenting. The session, titled ‘Parenting Pathways’, will be held at the Barakah Auditorium, Ayar, on Thursday, 16th January 2025, at 6:30 pm.
The workshop will cover three key topics related to parenting. Sharfuddin B.S., Principal of Barakah International School and College, as well as an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, will discuss ‘How to Motivate Your Child to Excel in Academics.’ Another renowned motivational speaker and Chairman of Hope Foundation will speak on ‘Parenting in the Modern Age.’ Additionally, Mohammad Haneef, Principal of the Islamic Department at Barakah International School and a well-known Khateeb, will address ‘Parenting Skills to Train Your Children to Follow Islamic Values.’
A Q&A session will follow the discussions, offering an opportunity for attendees to gain deeper insights into the topics from the experts. The event is free of charge and open to both parents, though prior registration is required. Maghreb and Isha prayer arrangements will also be available, along with refreshments at the conclusion of the session.
Interested individuals are encouraged to register early through the following Google form: https://forms.gle/mKxsr4A1UGrpo7DJ9 to secure their slots.
