Former US President Barack Obama visited Belfast last week and spoke about the dangers of misinformation and polarisation, warning that the flood of nonsense on social media undermines trust in truth.

Obama said social media algorithms reinforce biases and prejudices, which he linked to threats to democracy. He argued that a major reason why everything is so polarised is that people get their news through social media.

The visit came as controversy surrounding Drumcree and the Garvaghy Road area intensified, with social media amplifying hostile narratives.

During a BBC Northern Ireland programme, DUP leader Gavin Robinson discussed a private PSNI briefing he had received, saying police intelligence indicated dissident republicans might have used firearms against Orange Order members and police, and that the Secretary of State had given in to threats of violence.

Details of the PSNI assessment emerged in court. The assessment stated dissident republicans had attended the protest and possibly had access to firearms in the Garvaghy Road area, and that firearms might be used to attack police if protesters were removed.

The assessment also said reliable intelligence indicated mainstream republicans were concerned about their ability to prevent disorder or control dissident republicans, and that it was highly likely increasing numbers of loyalists would attend the Portadown area, with disorder at Drumcree church remaining a possibility.

Denzil McDaniel, a columnist and former newspaper editor, addressed the Public Interest News Foundation conference in Belfast, saying the toxic nature of current debate would have made the Good Friday Agreement impossible to achieve.

McDaniel said social media often encourages poisonous exchanges and that people are overwhelmed by misinformation, accepting only information that fits their own views.