Social media is NOT law-free zone, Starmer blasts as armchair thugs who stirred up hatred online face jail
THE internet “is not a law-free zone”, Sir Keir Starmer warned today as more far-right trolls had their day in court.
The PM vowed to continue hunting down and prosecuting racist keyboard warriors as calls grew for a crack down on social media chiefs letting hate run rampant online.
Sir Keir declared: “This is not a law free zone.
“And I think that’s clear from the prosecutions and sentencing.”
He added: “I think 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.
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“They don’t want it and they expect all of us, myself included, to do everything we possibly can to ensure that the disorder stops.
“And that’s why the message those that are thinking about getting involved in disorder of any sort is very clear – if you involve yourself in disorder, then the full force of the law will be applied.”
Earlier today Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds said the government will be keeping Britain’s Online Safety Act “under view”.
The Act, which became law in 2023, is designed to protect users and gives UK media watchdog Ofcom the power to crack down on tech giants, including imposing hefty fines.
But it only targets misinformation if the content is deliberately false and intended to cause “non-trivial psychological or physical harm.”
And while other sections of the legislation may cover social media content fuelling the riots, the powers from the Act have not yet come into force.
Yesterday London Mayor Sadiq Khan warned the legislation is “not fit for purpose”.
Mr Thomas-Symonds said: “If we need to act in relation to online safety laws – we will.”
A new YouGov poll found that two thirds of Brits think social media companies should be held responsible for posts inciting criminal behaviour.
And seven in ten believe that social media firms aren’t regulated strongly enough.
It came as two armchair thugs who stirred up racial hatred on Facebook and X face up to seven years in prison today as another ten rioters are caged across the country.
Jordan Parlour, 28, and Tyler Kay, 26, admitted earlier this week to encouraging pals online to join rioting and target asylum seeker hotels in Leeds and Northampton.
They are the first two people to be convicted over racist posts about rioting.
Sign installer Parlour, who couldn’t go rioting because of a broken ankle, urged yobs to “smash the f**k” out of the Britannia Hotel in the West Yorkshire city.
He wrote: “Every man and his dog should smash the f**k out of the Britannia Hotel.”
The yob then added: “Cos they are over here living the life of Reilly, off the tax you hard working people earn, when it could be put to better use.”
The hotel’s manager was later forced to put the building into lockdown on Saturday due to the disorder.
At least one window was broken after stones were thrown over the weekend.
Kay, 26, was charged and pleaded guilty on Thursday over unspecified messages on another social media platform.
Elsewhere, a coward who took a knife to a vigil for the victims of the Southport stabbings will be sent down.
Jordan Davies, 32, lied that his daughter was a victim in the dance hall horror after brandishing the blade at the scene hours before it descended into chaos.
Leanne Hodgson – who was filmed pushing a bin at police in Sunderland – will also be sentenced.
The 43-year-old removal business owner was arrested kicking and screaming at her home while wearing a nightie a day later.
She is expected to get a prison term alongside three other rioters, including Bradley Makin, who confessed to bringing a drug cocktail of cocaine and heroin with him.
An 18-year-old who hurled bricks at cops before begging them not to arrest him will also go to jail.
Cole Stewart screamed “I’m a child” at riot police as he was detained for violent disorder.