Ofcom warns social platforms on illegal content duties following Belfast unrest
The UK communications watchdog has issued an open letter reminding social media companies of their duty to mitigate risks of illegal activity, citing specific concerns over content shared by X owner Elon Musk in the wake of riots in Belfast.
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has issued an open letter to social media platforms reinforcing their legal obligations under the Online Safety Act 2023 to mitigate risks of illegal activity. The directive specifically targets content that stirs up hatred or provokes violence, urging companies to reduce the risk of such material appearing on their networks. This regulatory intervention follows civil unrest in Belfast, where homes in immigrant-heavy neighbourhoods were set on fire by masked men.
The disorder erupted after a stabbing incident in Dublin involving a Sudanese national, who was subsequently charged with attempted murder. Far-right anti-immigration figures in the UK quickly politicised the race and presumed immigration status of the attacker. This narrative was amplified on social media, with content containing misinformation and hate towards immigrants spreading broadly across platforms. Ofcom noted that platforms must actively reduce the risk of illegal content appearing, particularly disinformation that encourages further violence during crises.
The regulator highlighted specific concerns regarding the conduct of X owner Elon Musk. Ofcom noted that Musk had retweeted content from far-right figures and accounts spreading misinformation and hate towards immigrants. These retweets included posts from accounts identified as Alice Smith, Tommy Robinson, Rupert Lowe, Matt Goodwin, and Visegrád 24. The shared content featured images and comments related to the stabbing, allegations of policing biases, and rhetoric supporting mass deportations.
While Ofcom observed that Musk’s retweets did not explicitly call for violence, the regulator stated they contributed to the spread of illegal content and disinformation. This action comes shortly after X pledged to the UK government in May to work to reduce hate and terror content. Ofcom has previously provided lengthy guidance on what constitutes illegal content and has announced measures to address disinformation propagated in the wake of real-world tragedies.
The open letter was issued one day after Ofcom announced new safety measures requiring platforms to tackle spikes in illegal content during crises. These measures are designed to handle the rapid propagation of disinformation that can encourage further violence following a tragedy. The regulatory pressure arrives amidst ongoing legal challenges from Meta, which sued Ofcom in May arguing that the agency’s penalty regime was disproportionate.
