The UK government is set to introduce stricter regulations for social media companies, potentially blocking platforms that fail to swiftly remove illegal content inciting violence and disorder. This move follows a series of violent outbreaks linked to harmful online posts.
New Online Safety Act Amendments
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall will present an update to the Online Safety Act next week, requiring platforms to remove illegal content as soon as possible. While no specific timeframe is set, officials expect immediate removal. Non-compliant providers could face fines of up to 10% of their global turnover or have their services blocked in the UK.
Incendiary posts on social media have been blamed for horrific violence in Belfast this week, as well as protests over Henry Nowak's murder in Southampton and the Southport riots following a tragic knife attack in 2024. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Kendall stated: "Those who use social media to incite violence and disorder are breaking the law. Next week we will lay in Parliament an update to the Online Safety Act requiring services to take quicker action to remove illegal content circulating during times of crisis."
Government Crackdown
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to crack down on anyone fueling division, amid criticism of Elon Musk and X's role in the Belfast violence. Musk, who promoted calls for street protests over Monday's knife attack, denied inflaming tensions and blamed immigration policy.
Ofcom, the media regulator, published new crisis response protocols on Tuesday, ordering tech firms to stop illegal content from going viral during crises. Kendall's update will give legal backing to these measures, which were developed after the Southport riots.
Definition of Illegal Content
Illegal content includes false communications and state-sponsored misinformation. Ofcom defines a crisis as "an extraordinary situation in which there is a serious threat to public safety in the UK." During such crises, platforms must act promptly to manage increases in illegal content, deploy temporary response teams, and open dedicated communication channels for police.
Ofcom stated: "During a crisis, certain kinds of illegal content and/or content harmful to children can spread rapidly online. Evidence from previous crises has shown how perpetrators use online services to incite racial or religious hatred, make threats, or incite violence, leading to offline violence."
Platforms are also required to conduct a post-crisis analysis within 90 days. The new rules aim to prevent the spread of harmful content that has sparked riots and violence across the UK.
