The Southport Inquiry has found that more than 80% of violent material reported to online platforms was still available two weeks later. A report commissioned to examine the “real world accessibility” of violent material and weapon sales online found concerning content on sites including X, TikTok and Instagram.
Report findings on platform accessibility
Nicholas Moss KC, counsel to the inquiry, said the report outlined the result of a single eight-hour search across platforms including X, TikTok, Reddit, Instagram and Discord. He noted a spectrum of material of concern, ranging from content with violent overtones that might be argued to be newsworthy to material that could fairly be categorised as very violent or strong gore.
Mr Moss said 98.9% of the material was publicly accessible and 92.3% was not subject to any age restrictions. All of the material was reported to the platforms, but a week later 87.9% of it remained live, the inquiry heard. Fourteen days after it had been reported, 83.8% of the content was still available.
Platforms to give evidence in November
Mr Moss said platform providers would be asked about the report and “what appears to be, in some cases, arguable delay and failures to remove the material even when it had been reported to them”. Representatives of platforms including TikTok, Reddit, X and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, are expected to give evidence in November on the topic of the internet.
The inquiry heard TikTok had been issued with a section 21 notice, which can compel someone to give evidence or disclose documents. Mr Moss said the notice was sent to obtain urgent disclosure of evidence in relation to offensive material posted about Rudakubana and the victims of his attack. The order was necessary because the material sought included personal information about TikTok users.
First phase findings and victims' statements
The first phase of the inquiry heard Rudakubana had viewed degrading, violent and misogynistic material online which “fed” a fascination with violence. In his report earlier this year, inquiry chairman Sir Adrian Fulford found the attack, in which Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, were killed, “could and should have been prevented”.
Earlier on Monday, the inquiry, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, heard opening statements from counsel for the victims. William Chapman, representing the families of Elsie, Alice and Bebe, said Rudakubana was able to build an arsenal of weapons through the internet. He said: “On one tab of his browser he could indulge in his lust for gore and on the other he could make it real by ordering what he wanted from online retailers. His access was unfettered.”
The inquiry will sit again on Wednesday, when evidence is expected from a panel of experts who have reviewed six other cases of violence-fixated individuals to identify themes.
