Social media has been a key player in fueling anti-immigration riots in the United Kingdom, with Elon Musk making controversial comments on the situation. The Tesla CEO posted on the platform that “civil war is inevitable” in response to a post blaming violent demonstrations on mass migration.
These riots, which began after false information spread online following a stabbing attack, have led to widespread damage and arrests. The UK government is cracking down on online criminality, vowing to bring both rioters and their online supporters to justice.
The role of social media platforms like X, Facebook, and TikTok in these events has raised concerns. Even though the UK has an Online Safety Act to tackle harmful online content, it is not yet in effect due to ongoing consultations with regulatory bodies like Ofcom.
Ofcom expects the new regulations to be in place by the end of the year, allowing fines of up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliant companies. The government is urging tech platforms to take responsibility and act against the spread of false information and incitement to violence.