Elon Musk and other social media chiefs were warned that their platforms face tougher restrictions after the riots in Britain.
Sir Keir Starmer stressed that social media is “not a law free zone” and ministers have signalled that the Online Safety Act could be toughened up.
Musk, boss of X (Twitter) waded into the disturbances in the UK by suggesting that there would be “civil war” due to an open border policy, and fuelling claims that there is a two-tier system of policing in the UK, a claim strongly rejected by ministers and police chiefs.
His civil war claim was slapped down by Downing Street.
Asked about social media on a visit to the Met Police’s riots ‘nerve centre’ in Lambeth, central London, Sir Keir said: “The first thing I’d say is, this is not a law free zone.
“And I think that’s clear from the prosecutions and sentencing. Today we’re due sentencing for online behaviour.
“That’s a reminder to everyone that whether you’re directly involved or whether you’re remotely involved, you’re culpable, and you will be put before the courts if you’ve broken the law.
“And so that’s happening today, that sentencing.
“I do agree, that we are going to have to look more broadly at social media after this disorder but the focus at the moment has to be on dealing with the disorder and making sure that communities are safe and secure.”
Pressed on whether it would be helpful if social media chiefs such as Musk were more mindful about who they let use their platforms, he added: “People should be mindful of the first priority, which is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure.
“The vast majority of the public are absolutely repulsed by what they’ve seen in this disorder.”
Earlier, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds signalled that the new Government would consider changes to the Online Safety Act designed to regulate social media companies, following the riots.
The riots were partly blamed on false claims on social media that the suspect in the Southport stabbings of three young girls was a Syrian asylum seeker who had come to Britain by “small boat” crossing the Channel and was known to the intelligence and security services.
Mr Thomas-Symonds slammed “armchair thugs” who have incited violence online, with some of them having already been dragged before the courts.
The Online Safety Act, passed in October but not set to be fully enforced until early next year, allows the government to fine social media companies up to 10 per cent of global turnover if they are found in breach.
At present, companies would only face a fine if they fail to police illegal content, such as incitments to violence or hate speech.
Proposed changes could see regulator Ofcom sanction companies if they allow “legal but harmful” content such as misinformation to flourish.
The new Labour government inherited the legislation from the Conservatives, who spent many months tweaking the bill in an attempt to balance the right to free speech with concerns over online harms.
Mr Thomas-Symonds said on Friday that the government would revisit the law’s framework, if changes were now needed in the wake of the riots.
“There are obviously aspects of the Online Safety Act that haven’t come into effect yet. We stand ready to make changes if necessary,” he said on Sky News.
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, told the Guardian on Thursday that the Online Safety Act needed to be amended in the wake of the riots.
“I think what the government should do very quickly is check if it is fit for purpose. I think it’s not fit for purpose,” he told the newspaper.
On Friday, pollster YouGov published a survey of more than 2,000 adults, which found two thirds (66 per cent) believe social media companies should be held responsible for posts inciting criminal behaviour.
A further 70 per cent of respondents said social media companies were not strongly regulated enough, and 71 per cent said they did not do enough to counter misinformation while the riots were ongoing.
