Breaking AI & Tech News Analyzed

The Lead The UK Attorney General, Richard Hermer, has instructed his office to cease posting on X, making it the first UK government department to do so, amid growing concerns about the platform's use to incite violence and racism. X's Role in Inciting Violence and Racism Hermer's decision comes after recent disorder in Southampton and Belfast, where far-right activists, often endorsed by Elon Musk, called for protests and violent responses to initial incidents. The Attorney General is increasingly worried about how X is being used by bad actors to divide communities. The Data Analysis Eleven police officers were injured in widespread violence in Southampton. Violence erupted in Belfast after far-right activists called for demonstrations in response to a stabbing attack. The Impact Analysis The move by Hermer's department is the first sign of change, as ministers increasingly worry about the impact of social media. The government plans to amend the Online Safety Act to require social media firms to act more quickly to remove inflammatory content during riots or other crises. The Prediction In the meantime, the government will leave any official reprimand of X to Ofcom, the media regulator, which is awaiting a first quarterly report on compliance from the platform. The Attorney General's decision may signal a shift in the UK government's approach to social media and disinformation.