A survey of British police forces shows that many are reducing their presence on social media platform X due to concerns about extremist content. Elon Musk, the owner of X, has defended himself and the platform as advocates of free speech and censorship, but not everyone is in agreement.
A Reuters report reveals that out of the 33 UK police forces, ten, responsible for 13 million people, are actively reviewing their social media presence. In contrast, ten forces are continually reviewing all social content across various platforms. Many forces have reduced their presence on X, with six reducing their output to one or two accounts.
Since August, North Wales Police has stopped using the social media site X, claiming that it was no longer in line with their principles. The authority, which serves around 700,000 citizens, will continue to monitor alternative platforms. Gwent Police in Wales is also reviewing X due to concerns about its tone and its suitability for community engagement. Gwent has removed all individual officer accounts, while another force in England is evaluating whether continuing to use X is the best way to build trust.
Since Southport, X has come under more investigation
Twitter, once a crucial news source for authorities and organizations, has undergone a significant transformation, with its concise format now serving as an essential communication tool for various sectors, including police authorities, government institutions, and the royal family.
Following the death of three girls at a dancing lesson in Southport, the UK media has been under intense scrutiny. Posts on X fueled the belief the attack was an Islamist migrant’s, but much of the content was found to be fake, malicious, and intended.
Riots broke out in Southport and across the UK due to racism, with Elon Musk stating that “civil war is inevitable.” Police forces did not claim their reactions were related to the Southport incident, but critics argue that hate speech and disinformation have been allowed to thrive.
