CAMPAIGNERS at Hacked Off wrote to Home Secretary Priti Patel today to demand that the government deal with the circulation of false newspaper stories among extremists online.

False stories published by mainstream newspapers are being widely shared and disseminated among neonazis and white supremacists online before any action is taken by the industry-controlled complaints-handler IPSO, according to the group’s recent report.

In sharing the stories, racist and hateful comments were often added, the report found. In one example, an explicit call to violence was included.

The stories were typically used by extremists to illustrate the “rightfulness” of their racist views.

They were also shared on forums and online communities as propaganda for users’ white supremacist beliefs, the report added.

All newspapers covered in the report are members of IPSO, the industry-controlled press complaints-handler criticised for failing to uphold basic standards of accuracy, the report added.

Hacked Off director of policy Nathan Sparkes said: “The Home Secretary’s top priority should be the protection of the public.

“Extremist activity is linked with terrorist acts of violence in the Home Department’s own guidance on counter-terrorism. 

“The findings in this report, that false newspaper stories are fuelling extremist activity online, should be an urgent cause for action and for an independent system of press regulation to be introduced immediately.

“This government has already shown it is weak on allegations of corruption when it comes to the press, having suppressed the promised Leveson part two inquiry into allegations of police, press and political corruption.”

Mr Sparkes demanded that the government take a tougher line on extremism and urgently address the dissemination of false newspaper stories as extremist propaganda.