Following the violent disorder in England and Northern Ireland over the summer, Ofcom has found a “clear connection” between the unrest and posts on social media and messaging apps. The government requested the media regulator to investigate how illegal content and disinformation spread during the period of unrest. In an open letter detailing its findings, Ofcom boss Dame Melanie Dawes revealed that such content spread “widely and quickly” online in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings in July, which preceded the disorder.
Dame Melanie confirmed that most online services took “rapid action”, but expressed concern that the responses of some firms were “uneven”. According to her letter, “Posts about the Southport incident and subsequent events from high-profile accounts reached millions of users, demonstrating the role that virality and algorithmic recommendations can play in driving divisive narratives in a crisis period.” Experts suggest this highlights the power and responsibility social media platforms have.
The unrest in 2024 was the worst witnessed in the UK in ten years. Ofcom had faced criticism at the time for not doing more to restrict the spread of untrue and inflammatory content. The regulator urged tech firms to take action, but noted that the enhanced powers it is set to receive under the Online Safety Act had not yet come into effect. The Act includes new terms of practice for major tech firms, which are expected to take responsibility for tackling disinformation.
Dame Melanie underlined that the new powers, which set clear standards, would have enabled Ofcom to engage promptly with tech services at the time of the unrest. For instance, big tech firms are expected to have systems in place to quickly take down illegal content, while adequately resourced content moderation teams are also expected to be provided. Effective mechanisms for users to complain about illegal content, including on messaging platforms, were expected too. The regulator’s findings have encouraged calls for social platforms to take greater ownership of the impact of the content they allow to be uploaded.
The role played by big tech was closely scrutinised at the time of the unrest, and some people have since faced arrest and prosecution for online offences. While much attention was focused on the role of social media, the platforms themselves remained largely silent during the period. The UK Prime Minister was even drawn into a row with one of tech’s most prominent figures, X owner Elon Musk, who suggested that there would be inevitable civil war as a result of the disorder
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