A simple answer is that social media platforms, in particular Facebook, are to blame for allowing the easy spread of misinformation regarding the law. In November, Full Fact traced a number of viral Facebook posts claiming that article 61 of Magna Carta gave British citizens legal permission to defy the government. In October, a number of videos showing business owners citing Magna Carta to police officers were being shared across social media platforms, with hashtags such as #knowyourrights and #donotconsent. In far-right spaces of social media in particular, Magna Carta is also invoked as a digital rallying cry, not just against the British government, but pretty much anyone considered to be an “elite”. References to Magna Carta are often posted on right-leaning social networks such as Parler.

Source: The Guardian January 02, 2021 09:56 UTC