Elon Musk faces criticism for inflaming tensions following a week of far-right rioting in Britain, leading to increased calls for quicker implementation of laws regulating harmful online content. The unrest, sparked by the fatal stabbing of three young girls in Southport, saw far-right and anti-Muslim groups spread misinformation and incite violence on social media.
Musk’s provocative comment on his X platform, predicting that civil war was “inevitable” in Britain, has drawn condemnation from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson, who deemed such remarks unjustifiable. Starmer has also warned social media companies that online violence is a crime “on your premises” and stressed the need for a balance in managing these platforms.
The government’s predicament is compounded by the Online Safety Bill, which was passed in October but has yet to be enforced. This law grants Ofcom the authority to fine social media companies up to 10% of their global turnover for failing to control harmful content. However, with Ofcom still developing implementation guidelines, enforcement is not anticipated until early next year. This delay has prompted calls for the regulations to be enacted sooner.
Adam Leon Smith from BCS and MP Kirsty Blackman both advocate for accelerating the law’s implementation. They argue that immediate action is needed to hold platform owners accountable for spreading fake news and misinformation. Ofcom has stated it is working quickly to implement the Act, including consulting on codes of practice and guidance.
Meanwhile, despite Britain’s technology minister Peter Kyle urging platforms like TikTok, Meta, Google, and X to curb harmful content, many posts on X continue to promote violence and racism. These posts, including misleading information and direct calls for violence, highlight the urgency for robust enforcement of the Online Safety Act.