Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has faced criticism after a user flagged a post by Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor who had called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight. Connolly’s post was intended to stir up racial hatred and she pleaded guilty to this offence in court. Despite this, X rejected the user’s complaint about the post, stating that it had not broken the platform’s rules against violent threats.
This incident highlights the potential disconnect between what is illegal and what breaches social media sites’ rules, which is particularly important as the UK prepares to introduce new Online Safety Act regulations. The regulations, which will come into force in 2025, will require tech firms to take robust action against illegal content and activity. Companies could be fined up to £18m or 10% of their global revenue if they breach the act’s rules.
This case also raises issues related to the supposed promotion of disinformation and hate on social media sites like X. The site has been criticised for its management of such content, and new owner Elon Musk has also taken steps that have been scrutinised, such as introducing paid-for blue ticks to offer users’ posts greater prominence and reinstating accounts that had previously been banned.
The user who complained about Connolly’s post stated that they had previously flagged numerous concerning messages on the platform, yet had received similar responses. This raises questions about the effectiveness of social media platform’s moderation processes and has led to accusations that supposed moderation processes and code of conduct are being ignored
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