A political correspondent reports that far-right organizing is becoming more visible and transnational, amplified by social media platforms and figures like Elon Musk. This trend is contributing to increased hostility on British streets, particularly for people of color.
The increasing visibility and transnational nature of far-right organizing, amplified by social media, poses a significant threat to social cohesion and safety, particularly for minority communities, and highlights the challenges in regulating online content to prevent offline violence.
Political hatred and far-right organizing in Britain have intensified, amplified by social media platforms and influential figures, according to political correspondent Ben Quinn. Ten years after the murder of MP Jo Cox by a right-wing extremist, her sister Kim Leadbeater stated that political hatred is worse now, though she believes divisive voices are a minority.
Quinn explains that far-right organizing is happening more openly, with planning occurring on platforms like Telegram and X, which is then used to amplify these plans. Elon Musk, owner of X, has shared details of planned demonstrations, which have been seized upon by right-wing politicians globally. Musk himself has been found to post frequently about alleged threats to the white race.
The use of AI-generated images, videos, and songs to inflame local anger and spread misinformation, such as fabricated incidents of 'migrant gangs' assaulting women, is also a growing tactic. TikTok is emerging as another platform where violent content reaches a broader audience.
The normalization of hate speech is evident, with phrases like 're-migration'—advocating for mass expulsion of non-white residents—now used routinely by figures like Tommy Robinson. The Guardian reported that X is accused of giving racists 'impunity' by allowing posts with racial slurs. While UK ministers plan to amend the Online Safety Act to expedite the removal of inflammatory content, this is not expected to take effect until mid-July at the earliest.