Sir Keir Starmer has issued a stern warning to social media companies, emphasizing their responsibility to combat misinformation in the wake of recent violent protests

triggered by the Southport stabbings.

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government is committed to enforcing the law everywhere, including online spaces where far-right groups are accused of inciting violence and deepening divisions. The unrest has affected several locations, including Southport, London, and Hartlepool.

During a press conference at Downing Street, Sir Keir addressed social media platforms directly, stating: “Violent disorder, clearly incited online, constitutes a crime that is occurring on your platforms. The law must be upheld everywhere.”

He highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Government and tech firms to ensure public safety, criticizing past approaches where governments merely blamed others. “Blaming others and pointing fingers has not worked well in the past,” he said. “My approach is to engage with the relevant parties to address issues and meet our national challenges effectively.”

Sir Keir underscored the need for practical cooperation, stating: “We need to roll up our sleeves, bring everyone to the table, and tackle these problems. It’s about working together to ensure safety and uphold the values of law enforcement and security.”

Earlier this week, Merseyside Police warned about the spread of incorrect information online regarding the Southport attacker, who has been identified as 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana. The police also addressed false narratives surrounding his background.

Sunder Katwala, director of the think tank British Future, pointed out that prominent online figures, including Laurence Fox and former kickboxer Andrew Tate, were sharing this false information on X (formerly Twitter). Experts have noted that such misinformation has been used by a “vocal minority” to sow discord and promote their own agendas, exacerbating the recent violence.

John Coxhead, a professor of policing at Staffordshire University, criticized the exploitation of these events by opportunistic populists seeking to stir unrest.

Social media platform X, now under the leadership of billionaire Elon Musk, has faced increased scrutiny. Musk's tenure has been marked by significant staff reductions and a rollback of content moderation and verification systems. Despite his claims of promoting “absolute free speech,” critics argue that this has led to a rise in hateful content, pornography, and spam.

Under Musk’s management, X has also reinstated accounts of several figures previously banned for violating hate speech policies, including far-right personalities like Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) and Katie Hopkins. This has led to concerns about the platform's effectiveness in curbing harmful content. Photo by Jason Howie, Wikimedia commons.