Most X accounts posting about Belfast and Southampton unrest were based outside UK

The analysis underlines that US rightwing actors are seeking to influence the UK and boost their position on X in moments of disorder. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

More than half the accounts that posted on Elon Musk’s X about the rioting in Belfast and the civil disorder in Southampton in June were based outside the UK, an analysis by the Guardian can reveal.

Of the 8,672 accounts whose combined posts about the events exceeded 1,000 views, just 45.3% were shown as from the UK, according to the social media platform’s own location function.