Overview

• A Channel 4 documentary, 'Accused: The Hampstead Paedophile Hoax,' highlights the dangerous consequences of a false paedophile ring accusation that went viral.
• The hoax, initiated by a mother and her partner, falsely implicated parents and teachers in a London school, leading to widespread harassment and threats.
• Testimonies from affected mothers, portrayed by actors for privacy, detail the relentless digital and physical harassment they faced.
• Conspiracy theorists, including a jailed harasser and a legal adviser sentenced to nine years for stalking, played key roles in spreading the false claims.
• The documentary underscores the alarming ease with which lies can spread online and the societal readiness to believe in conspiracy theories.