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UK: X created a 'staggering amplification of hate' during the 2024 riots


We are Amnesty International UK. We are ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights.

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon’s (also known as Tommy Robinson’s) posts on X, including claims such as there being “more evidence to suggest Islam is a mental health issue rather than a religion of peace” received over 580 million views in the two weeks following the Southport attack - an unprecedented reach for a figure banned on most mainstream platforms for breaching hate speech rules. Divisive content that drives replies, irrespective of their accuracy or harm, may be prioritised and surface more quickly in timelines than verified information,” said Pat de Brún, Amnesty’s Head of Big Tech Accountability. Since then, X has dismantled or weakened many of its safety guardrails aimed at curbing hate speech and disinformation, from mass layoffs of content moderation staff to the reinstatement of previously banned accounts - with no evidence of human rights impact assessments.

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