Debate is widening over the role of social networking service X (formerly Twitter) after anti-immigrant violent protests erupted in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
According to the Guardian on the 11th local time, Elon Musk, the owner of X, denied criticism that he incited the Belfast riots and shared a post on X saying that the cause of heightened social tensions is not social media but large-scale immigration policies.
The controversy began with a knife rampage in Belfast on the 8th. According to British media, a 30-year-old Sudanese man brandished a weapon in a residential area in north Belfast, inflicting serious injuries on a man in his 40s. The victim suffered severe injuries, including losing one eye, and the suspect was later charged with attempted murder, making threats to kill, and possession of an offensive weapon. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said no indications of terrorism have been identified so far.
About an hour after the incident, video of the attack was shared via the X account of British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, who has more than 2 million followers, rapidly fueling anti-immigrant sentiment. Protests then broke out across Belfast, and some escalated into violence.
According to local media, masked protesters set fire to vehicles and dwellings and blocked roads. The BBC reported that about 100 men kicked in dwelling doors and smashed windows. The British government believes at least 27 people lost their residence in attacks targeting foreign residents. Two care workers from Uganda were chased by rioters and fled their home. Police eventually dispersed the crowd with water cannons.
Amid this, criticism grew that X and social media amplified the unrest. Neil Basu, a former senior police officer who led the UK counterterrorism command, said, "Discourse around immigration is being amplified through social media and is encouraging violence on the streets."
But the British government cannot immediately sanction X. According to the Guardian, the government is pushing to amend the Online Safety Act to strengthen obligations so that social media corporations delete incendiary content more quickly during riots or national crises. However, even at the earliest, the relevant rules will not take effect until mid-July.
Until then, whether to take official action against X will be determined by Ofcom, the communications and media regulator. Ofcom is awaiting a quarterly report to check X's legal compliance, but the submission is reportedly at least two months away.
The British government plans to unveil the direction of the Online Safety Act amendment next week. Science and Technology Minister Liz Kendall said the government will strengthen obligations so that platform corporations respond more quickly to illegal content spread during crises.
Meanwhile, the incident occurred amid deepening conflict in British society over immigration and public safety. Last year in Northern Ireland, large-scale anti-immigrant riots broke out over alleged sex crimes involving immigrants, injuring more than 100 police officers. Recently in Southampton, southern England, anti-immigrant protests also escalated into violent clashes after a serious crime involving immigrants, prolonging social tensions.