i morning briefing: Do online safety laws need strengthening in the wake of the riots?
The misinformation, and subsequent hate whipped up online in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings has raised fresh questions over the regulation of social media. Last week Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said social media platforms had “put rocket boosters” under some of the misinformation spreading online, saying those firms “need to take some responsibility for this”. The justice system has already meted out severe punishments for those convicted of stirring up far-right violence. On Friday Tyler Kay was handed a 38 month sentence for inflammatory posts on X, and Jordan Parlour was given 20 months in jail for inciting racial hatred with Facebook posts. Now the Online Safety Act is facing scrutiny, with London mayor Sadiq Khan saying it is “not fit for purpose”. Are the laws tough enough? We’ll take a look, after the headlines.
Rivers in England’s National Parks are being polluted by pharmaceuticals including antidepressants, painkillers and antibiotics, research indicates. High levels of drugs have been identified in some of England’s most precious waterways, sometimes at levels that pose a threat to wildlife and humans, according to a study.
