A judge in Pakistan acquitted a man who was accused of spreading misinformation that contributed to widespread rioting in the U.K. Farhan Asif, a web developer, was arrested in Lahore and charged with cyberterrorism, but was released after a hearing where he admitted to deleting the post on social media once he realized it was incorrect. Federal investigators could not prove that he intentionally spread misinformation, leading to his acquittal. The Federal Investigation Agency had accused Asif of spreading false information on YouTube and Facebook about the British teenage suspect in a stabbing attack that occurred in northwest England, killing three girls and injuring 10 others. Asif’s case highlights the challenges of combating misinformation and the need for more rigorous oversight to prevent the spread of false information that can lead to violence and unrest.
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Pakistan man cleared of spreading false information that sparked riots in U.K.
