UK premier warns social media companies over inciting violence, spreading disinformation

By Gozde Bayar

ANKARA (AA) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned social media companies against acting irresponsibly by inciting violence and spreading false information.

“Let me also say to large social media companies and those who run them: Violent disorder clearly whipped up online—that is also a crime. It's happening on your premises, and the law must be upheld everywhere," Starmer said at a news conference following the fatal stabbing of three young girls in the northwest English town of Southport last week.

Their tragic deaths have further strained community relations and sparked additional episodes of disorder in towns and cities across England.

The disturbances followed the rapid spread of false information on social media that the suspect in the stabbings was a radical Islamist migrant.

Starmer said there was a "balance to be struck" in handling such platforms, as praising violence on social media is a “crime, not freedom of expression.”

Responding to a question on what steps would be taken if social media platforms did not fulfill their responsibilities, he said: "It's an amazing opportunity that we all enjoy...There is also a responsibility that goes with it. That's a space for a mature conversation to take place."

Anti-immigrant protesters descended on Southport from elsewhere, attacking police and targeting a mosque following the incident.

More than 150 people were arrested during violent disorder in various UK towns and cities over the weekend.

The violence marked some of the worst rioting the UK has seen in recent years.

Also, a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, a town in South Yorkshire, was targeted Sunday by far-right rioters on the sixth day of violent disorder, leaving it damaged and people in shock.

Rioters threw planks of wood at officers and sprayed them with fire extinguishers before smashing hotel windows to gain access to the premises as riots continued to escalate across England.

Around 700 people took part in the riots where they set a generator and a large bin close to a window of the hotel alight, causing a small fire.