By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
The government has defended the actions of the media regulator in response to recent unrest in the UK, asserting that social media companies must take responsibility for their role in the ongoing crisis. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, has issued an open letter urging these platforms to take immediate action rather than waiting for the enhanced powers they will gain under the forthcoming Online Safety Act.
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson echoed this sentiment, stating that tech companies have a current obligation to address content that incites violence. However, some critics argue that a more stringent approach is necessary. Azzurra Moores from the fact checking organization Full Fact emphasized the urgency, warning that online misinformation is a significant and immediate threat that is contributing to the unrest on UK streets. She called for faster and stronger measures from both Ofcom and the government.
During an interview on BBC Radio Four's "Today" program, Dame Diana suggested that the Online Safety Act, which is set to take effect early next year, might need to be revisited in light of the recent events. She indicated that the government is also considering a proposal to ban convicted rioters from attending football matches, noting that sports clubs likely do not want individuals involved in such violence and disorder in their stands.
The role of social media in the disturbances in England and Northern Ireland is increasingly under scrutiny. The government criticized social media platforms on Wednesday, stating they need to do much more after reports surfaced about a list circulating online that allegedly contained the names and addresses of immigration lawyers. The Law Society of England and Wales described the list as a "very credible threat" to its members.
Telegram, the platform where the list is believed to have originated, informed the BBC that its moderators are actively monitoring the situation and removing channels and posts that promote violence, which is against its terms of service.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was drawn into a confrontation with Elon Musk after the tech mogul tweeted that "civil war" in the UK was "inevitable," in response to the unrest. Ofcom's open letter highlighted the increased risk of social media sites being used to incite hatred and provoke violence. The regulator noted that existing rules require video-sharing platforms like TikTok and Snap to protect users from content likely to incite violence or hatred, but platforms like YouTube and Musk's X, which also allow video uploads, are not bound by these regulations.
Professor Lorna Woods from the University of Essex, who contributed to the development of the Online Safety Act, acknowledged that Ofcom faces challenges as it awaits the additional powers the Act will provide. She also pointed out that even with the new legislation, some content might still evade regulation. While the Act would cover organized efforts to incite riots, certain forms of disinformation and dog-whistle tactics might not be addressed. This was a concern of the previous government, which aimed to avoid regulating non-criminal speech among adults.
