Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called on social media giants to remove violent material from their platforms following the Southport killer’s attack. Axel Rudakubana was jailed for murdering three children and injuring others after being influenced by an al-Qaeda training manual he accessed online.
Cooper, along with Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, co-wrote a letter to Meta, TikTok, Google, and YouTube demanding the removal of such content to prevent further attacks. The government’s Online Safety Act, set to become law in March, will give authorities the power to order the removal of violent material. However, Cooper stressed that platforms have a moral responsibility to act now.
Rudakubana had watched graphic footage of a previous knife attack before carrying out his own, highlighting the need for immediate action in removing harmful content. The government plans to hold a public inquiry to investigate missed opportunities in preventing Rudakubana’s attack, including his prior involvement in the Prevent programme and past violent behavior.
The Sunday Times reports serious failings in the handling of Rudakubana by counter-terrorism officers, with a review indicating they underestimated the threat he posed. Despite this, the government is urging social media companies to remove violent content to prevent further tragedies, emphasizing their moral duty to act swiftly. All five companies have been contacted for comment, and the government is pushing for immediate action before the Online Safety Act comes into effect in March.
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