Labour announces social media crackdown 'in times of crisis' after Belfast attack

The proposed amendments come in response to this week's knife attack in Belfast and the ensuing chaos across the city.

The Technology Secretary said: "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."

Ms Kendall confirmed she has directly requested that Ofcom hold urgent discussions with X and other platforms regarding their compliance with existing legislation.

Under the proposed changes, Ofcom would be able compel technology companies to act more swiftly against material "capable of inciting violence or disorder".

Government sources indicated the measures would go further than explicit calls for violence - but refused to elaborate on what.

The regulator would have discretion to decide whether "graphic footage", such as images from the Belfast attack, would be banned in Britain.

However, significant questions remain unanswered about the practical implementation of these powers.

It remains unclear who will be responsible for declaring when a "time of crisis" exists, or what specific criteria would trigger such a designation.

Reform UK's Matt Goodwin argued that ministers should address the root causes of public discontent rather than attempting to regulate online discourse.

"It's not social media that's 'inflaming tensions'," he said. "It's not Elon Musk. It's not Nigel Farage. It's not the 'far-right'. It is the very deliberate policy of mass uncontrolled immigration and open borders.

"This policy has to end or it will destroy Western nations."

Mr Musk endorsed this view with a single-word response: "Exactly."

The X owner has posted multiple messages concerning the Belfast incident, including sharing a pro-deportation post from Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe featuring graphic imagery of the alleged attacker with the caption "Millions must go".

He also amplified a protest schedule from Tommy Robinson, adding: "Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change!!"

Labour Party chairwoman Anna Turley scolded the world's richest man, ordering him to refrain from involving himself in sensitive political events such as the Belfast attack.

Speaking to Times Radio before Ms Kendall's announcement, she said: "He's not a victim. He's not living in the kind of communities where we're seeing this kind of activity. He's not at risk.

"It's mums and families and people living in those homes in Belfast and on the streets of Britain who are at risk."

Ms Turley said everyone in public life bears responsibility to promote calm rather than stoking "division".

In the Commons, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey demanded action against "extremists who exploit that grief and anger to spread hatred and violence, aided and abetted by social media barons like Elon Musk and their divisive algorithms."

Sir Ed Davey questioned whether speech could truly be considered free when controlled by technology billionaires and their algorithms, asking the Prime Minister to take firm action against platforms like X.

Sir Keir Starmer responded: "We will crack down on anyone who is fuelling this division."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman highlighted fines already issued by Ofcom under existing legislation, along with nearly 100 investigations and previous action taken against the chatbot Grok.

He also threatened that the Government has always viewed the Online Safety Act as "the start, not the end of the conversation."

Ofcom said some of the Belfast disorder "appears to have been incited online," including racially-motivated violence, arson attacks on properties and vehicles, and assaults on police officers.

The regulator confirmed it was contacting specific providers where it believes illegal content relating to the civil unrest poses particular risks.

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