Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has announced that the government is exploring new measures to curb the spread of misinformation during public crises. Her comments follow recent rioting in Southampton linked to the police response to the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak—a case that has been repeatedly highlighted on X by Elon Musk. Kendall stated she is “very concerned” about the role social media platforms play during periods of unrest and insisted she will not be “bullied off” the platform despite the hostile environment.
Did You Know? The Commons science, innovation and technology committee reported that the Online Safety Act—which was not fully in force during the summer 2024 riots—took eight years to transition from initial discussion to implementation.
Regulatory Gaps and Crisis Protocols
The government is currently reviewing how to better hold social media companies accountable for the spread of misleading information. Kendall pointed to a report from the Commons science, innovation and technology committee, which previously recommended that Ofcom implement “crisis response protocols.” The media regulator has been consulting on this issue, with further updates expected later this month. According to the committee’s investigation into the 2024 Southport riots, “misleading and hateful messaging proliferated rapidly online, amplified by the recommendation algorithms of social media companies.”
The Debate Over Algorithm Resets
A central focus of the government’s proposed action involves empowering users to manage their own digital experience. Kendall suggested that it should be easier for individuals to “reset their algorithms” when they feel overwhelmed by harmful content. “I definitely think, particularly during moments of crisis and disorder and when public safety is important, we need to look at what more we can do,” she stated. This proposal aims to address concerns that current platform mechanisms contribute to the rapid amplification of inflammatory posts, such as those related to the Nowak case, which reached over 25 million views after being shared by Musk.
Expert Insight: The tension between government officials and social media leadership highlights a widening gap between the speed of digital technology development and the legislative processes intended to regulate it. As MPs struggle to address these “regulatory gaps,” the shift toward user-controlled algorithm resets represents a potential pivot from direct content moderation toward architectural changes in how information is served to the public.
Legal Action and Political Friction
The friction between the government and X extends beyond policy discussions. Labour MP Jess Asato is currently pursuing legal action against Elon Musk’s xAI company regarding demeaning sexualised material generated by its Grok AI tool. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly supported Asato’s decision, describing her actions as “absolutely right.” Meanwhile, Chi Onwurah, chair of the Commons science, innovation and technology committee, has criticized the government for failing to update the Online Safety Act, describing the legislation as “woefully inadequate and riddled with regulatory gaps.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the government considering regarding misinformation?
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated the government is looking at boosting trusted sources of information and enabling users to reset their social media algorithms to curb the spread of misinformation during crises.
What was the result of the Commons committee investigation?
The committee found that the Online Safety Act was inadequate and contained regulatory gaps, and that misleading and hateful messaging was amplified by social media recommendation algorithms during the summer 2024 riots.
Why is Jess Asato taking legal action?
The Labour MP is taking legal action against Elon Musk’s xAI company over demeaning sexualised material created by the Grok AI tool that spread on X earlier this year.
Do you believe that personal control over algorithms is a sufficient solution to the spread of misinformation online?
