Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has expressed concern that social media is being used to incite violence amid far-right unrest across the country. Gill Whitehead, Ofcom’s head of online safety, urged online platforms to address the potential spread of harmful material linked to the ongoing feud in an open letter, highlighting its existing powers over video-sharing platforms and the impending enforcement of wider of the Online Safety Act.
Ofcom specifically encourages platforms to address content that depicts “hate and chaos” and promotes violence or falsehoods. The regulator’s existing powers allow it to “suspend or restrict” video-sharing platforms that fail to protect the public from “harmful material”, which may include inflammatory and often unsubstantiated videos purporting to show content from Violence in immigrant communities has proliferated online. The rules do not yet apply generally to social media companies, but the Online Safety Bill is likely to give Ofcom more powers when it comes into force in late 2024 or early 2025.
Musk himself has repeatedly promoted posts and misinformation about the discord, commenting in video clips of the riot that “civil war is inevitable.” A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement in response to Musk’s statement that there was “no reason to make such a comment.” “What we’re seeing in this country is organized violence that has no place, whether it’s on our streets or online.”
Ofcom acknowledged in its letter that its enforcement efforts remain limited, although it warned platforms it would keep a close eye on them. Whitehead said: “New security obligations under the Online Security Act will be put in place in a few months, but you can take action now – there’s no need to wait to make your website and app safe for users safer.
