University bids to help expats avoid ‘fake news’

Cambridge University is to set up a database to help Britons in the EU, saying it is vital they have access to good information sources so they do not fall victim to scams and ‘fake news’.

The University wants to help avoid Britons returning to the UK in a panic, because they lack clear information about what is going on as Brexit approaches.

UK citizens abroad need to be empowered to make sound, informed decisions during Brexit negotiations on whether to remain in their adopted homelands or return to the UK,” says lead researcher Dr Brendan Burchell from Cambridge’s Department of Sociology.

Dr Burchell notes that so far debate on Brexit in the UK has highlighted the issue of EU migrants entering the UK but has given little thought to impacts if many British expats were to return.

He said in a statement: “Sudden reverse migration could increase pressures on already overstretched health and social care services in the UK, at a time when significant numbers of key workers in these sectors may themselves be returning to EU homelands as a result of Brexit-related insecurities.

“…Without access to well-grounded information that updates throughout the Brexit process, the current void will be increasingly filled with dangerous speculation and even so-called ‘fake news’ from partisan groups or those that would seek to prey upon the anxiety of UK over-65s to make quick money through lowball property sales or investment scams.”

In order to help Britons make sound decisions based on facts, Cambridge wants to set up a database of trustworthy information sources, whether legal, health, financial, property, Facebook pages, blogs, or English-language newspapers.

Researchers will now be ‘scouring the internet’ and speaking to relevant groups to find out more.

They say the results will be shared with trusted parties including government agencies, legal charities and citizen’s advice bureaux.

There are thought to be at least 1.2 million Britons living in the EU.

The Cambridge research is being funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council and will take place over the next six weeks.