English schools will soon begin teaching children how to spot “extremist content and misinformation online,” according to a recent article from The Guardian.

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These lessons may involve learning how to tell fake articles and factual articles apart, while computer lessons may involve learning how to identify “fake news websites.”

Of course, this all sounds fine on the surface. In an increasingly digital age, everyone, especially children, should know how to sift through lies and deception to find the truth. IFA strongly believes this, as many of our articles focus on cutting through the noise to provide accurate and helpful news.

The problem is that the authorities in England have proven to be untrustworthy. This has been made apparent recently as riots have exploded across England. While the authorities have been slow to stop these riots, they have been remarkably quick to silence and chill speech. Last week, the Crown Prosecution Service posted this ominous video on X:

Think before you post! 📲✋ Content that incites violence or hatred isn’t just harmful – it can be illegal.

The CPS takes online violence seriously and will prosecute when the legal test is met. Remind those close to you to share responsibly or face the consequences. pic.twitter.com/5gxnUH02yw

— Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) August 7, 2024

The authorities threatened to punish people for what they posted online, and, thus far, they have made good on that promise. In the wake of this post, some have already been arrested over social media posts. The U.K. has promised that more arrests will come, as the Director of Public Prosecutions of England and Wales recently warned that there are police officers dedicated to scouring the internet in search of posts to arrest people over.

In what is perhaps the most chilling news, London’s Metropolitan Police Chief recently threatened to extradite and jail U.S. citizens over social media posts made about the riots in the U.K.

So, how does England’s misinformation education plan fit into all of this? As the U.K. continues to stifle speech and punish dissidents, it is important to ask what exactly these children will be taught. Will their teachers truly teach them how to identify and combat misinformation? Or will they be taught that conservative opinions and articles are “misinformation” in need of censorship? Only time will tell.

It is also important to remember that although this has happened across the Atlantic, it is still very much a possibility here as well. We have seen the government in America target conservative articles and sites, labeling them as “misinformation” and censoring them. Americans have also been arrested for social media posts.

At times like these, it’s important to pray that children are taught how to differentiate between truth and lies, not how to enforce the party’s narrative and silence opposition.

Share your prayers for free speech below.

(Nathan Tabler is IFA’s Communications Coordinator. Photo Credit: rob dobi/Getty Images)