By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
For several days, England and parts of Northern Ireland have witnessed widespread unrest, leaving communities on edge and prompting a significant police response all exacerbated by the influence of social media. Throughout this period, journalists at have persistently reached out to major tech companies to understand their response to the situation. However, these companies have largely remained silent, with the messaging app Telegram being the only one to issue an official statement.
While there is hope that the situation on the streets is beginning to stabilize, the silence from tech firms may not shield them from further scrutiny. Baroness Martha Lane Fox, a prominent figure in the UK tech industry, expressed her dismay at their lack of accountability. As someone who has served on the board of Twitter, she noted that big tech companies generally shy away from political involvement because it rarely benefits them. Yet, she argues that their inaction should not deter the government from stepping in, highlighting the urgent need for greater accountability and robust regulation.
So far, tech companies have said very little. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has made no public comment, and neither have TikTok, Snapchat, or Signal. A source at Snapchat mentioned that the company remains in close contact with the regulator Ofcom and the UK government, but no official statements have been issued.
Telegram has come under scrutiny after a list allegedly containing the names and addresses of immigration lawyers circulated online, originating from its platform. The Law Society of England and Wales has taken this as a "very credible threat" to its members. While Telegram did not comment specifically on the list, it did state that its moderators are "actively monitoring the situation and removing channels and posts containing calls to violence," emphasizing that such content is strictly prohibited by its terms of service.
Meanwhile, X, owned by Elon Musk, has not responded to any requests for comment regarding the riots. The platform has been criticized for allowing the spread of false claims, hate speech, and conspiracy theories. Since Musk acquired the platform in 2022 and reduced content moderation, figures like far right activist Tommy Robinson have been reinstated. Robinson recently used the platform to post inflammatory messages while vacationing in Cyprus. Musk himself has not remained silent, however. He stirred controversy with tweets suggesting that "civil war is inevitable" and questioning why all communities in Britain aren't being protected equally. He also deleted a tweet promoting a conspiracy theory about detainment camps on the Falkland Islands.
Social media expert Matt Navarra explained that tech companies are often reluctant to engage in politically sensitive issues, fearing they might alienate users or become entangled in regulatory challenges. He suggested that their silence is a strategic move to avoid responsibility, prioritizing profits over public safety and social responsibility. Adam Leon Smith of the Chartered Institute for IT criticized this silence as "incredibly disrespectful" to the public, while media analyst Hanna Kahlert speculated that the companies are cautious about making public statements that could later constrain their actions or impact revenue.
Looking ahead, the Online Safety Act, set to take effect next year, will grant the regulator Ofcom more power, and the prime minister has hinted at the need for a broader review of social media in the wake of the unrest. However, some experts, like Prof. Lorna Woods from the University of Essex, warn that even with the new legislation, certain types of harmful content may still slip through the cracks.
According to a YouGov poll, two thirds of the British public believe that social media firms should be held more accountable. While big tech may remain silent for now, it appears that change is on the horizon, and the industry could be facing a very different regulatory landscape in the UK.
