August M
A network of Facebook and Instagram accounts spreading AI-generated anti-immigration content about Britain is being run largely from overseas, according to a BBC investigation.
The accounts present themselves as British voices warning about immigration and cultural decline, but many are linked to operators in countries including Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Maldives.
Fake British pages
One Facebook account called “Great British People” has attracted more than a million views with videos showing AI-generated scenes and emotional political messages.
According to the BBC, the page claims to represent Yorkshire despite being operated from Sri Lanka based on Meta transparency data.
Other videos circulating online depict fictional scenes such as the House of Commons filled with men in traditional Arab clothing or British cities transformed into dystopian landscapes.
Co-ordinated content
BBC Panorama and the Top Comment podcast identified dozens of connected accounts sharing similar anti-immigration themes.
Some pages had previously focused on unrelated topics such as “Make America Great Again” or life in the United States before switching to UK political content designed to drive engagement.
Prof Sander van der Linden of the University of Cambridge described the activity as a “new evolution of influence operations” aimed at shaping public opinion using AI-generated material.
Political concerns
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan told the BBC some of the activity appeared linked to hostile states and politically motivated groups.
“You’ve got state actors,” Khan said, adding that researchers had identified signs of Russian and Chinese activity alongside online networks tied to far-right political movements.
He also warned that misleading AI-generated content portraying London as dangerous or collapsing could damage tourism, investment and international confidence in the city.
Profit and division
Several account operators told the BBC their goal was to maximise engagement and grow audiences rather than openly pursue political campaigns.
One person behind a viral account said: “I mostly post to get a reaction for the sake of engagement which boosts my followers and money.”
According to the BBC, some UK-based users also co-ordinate with overseas accounts through private group chats to amplify anti-immigration messaging online.
Trust eroded
Researchers warned that the spread of AI-generated misinformation could make people less able to distinguish authentic content from fabricated material.
Prof Yvonne McDermott Rees of Queen’s University Belfast said studies show many users overestimate their ability to spot fake content online.
“The more that people see AI content, the less able that they are to discern fact from fiction,” she said.
Sources: BBC, BBC Panorama, Top Comment podcast, University of Cambridge
