In recent days, the United Kingdom has been rocked by violent anti-immigration riots, with social media playing a significant role in escalating tensions. Central to this digital agitation is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of the platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Musk has made several provocative comments, including a recent assertion that “civil war is inevitable,” in response to posts blaming mass migration and open borders for the violent demonstrations.
The UK government has taken a firm stance against Musk’s remarks. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office condemned the comments, emphasizing that they were baseless and inflammatory. However, Musk persisted, labeling Starmer as #TwoTierKier, alluding to debunked claims that right-wing protests face harsher policing than left-wing ones. Musk further compared the UK’s attempts to regulate offensive speech on social media to the Soviet Union’s restrictions, amplifying his contentious rhetoric.
The UK’s concern about the spread of false information online has intensified, especially given the real-world violence it is inciting. The riots have resulted in significant property damage, including the burning of cars and two Holiday Inn hotels believed to house asylum seekers. Public buildings have been vandalized, and police officers have been targeted with bricks. Hundreds of arrests have been made as authorities attempt to regain control.
A critical incident that fueled the riots was the stabbing attack that left three children dead. Far-right groups quickly spread misinformation on social media, falsely claiming that the perpetrator was a Muslim asylum seeker. Despite police clarifications that the suspect, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, was born in the UK, the false narrative continued to spread, stoking further outrage.
The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a think tank, reported that by the day following the attack, a false name for the alleged asylum seeker had been mentioned over 30,000 times on X by more than 18,000 unique accounts. The ISD highlighted that platform algorithms had amplified this misinformation, exposing it to users who might not have encountered it otherwise. The UK government also suspects that bots, potentially linked to state-backed actors, played a role in spreading false information.
Social media companies have struggled to enforce their policies against hate speech and incitement to violence. Despite having internal guidelines, the sheer volume of content during crises often overwhelms their moderation systems. Musk’s actions have exacerbated this issue, as he has promoted incendiary content and relaxed content moderation on X. His approach has raised concerns among European regulators, who have accused the platform of misleading and deceiving users.
The UK government has vowed to prosecute online criminality and is urging social media companies to take more decisive action against the spread of false information. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the role of social media in exacerbating the situation and called for stronger enforcement against those inciting violence online. During a recent cabinet meeting, Starmer reiterated the government’s commitment to bringing both online and offline perpetrators to justice.
The UK’s Online Safety Act, adopted last year, aims to impose new duties on social media platforms, including the obligation to remove illegal content promptly. Although the legislation is not yet in effect, the regulator Ofcom is consulting on codes of practice and guidance. Once implemented, the Act will empower Ofcom to fine companies up to 10% of their global revenue for non-compliance. Ofcom has already begun engaging with tech platforms to ensure they are preparing for these new rules.
As the situation continues to unfold, the UK government is determined to hold those responsible for the riots and their online enablers accountable. The actions of high-profile figures like Elon Musk and the policies of social media platforms will be scrutinized as authorities work to restore order and prevent further violence.
