X accused of giving racists ‘impunity’ after refusing to bar N- and P-word posts

X has refused to remove dozens of social media posts reported as “hate, abuse or harassment” in which prominent UK politicians, including Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, were racially abused, according to research shared with the Guardian [1]. Researchers from the thinktank British Future reported 30 posts from this year in which Badenoch was called the N-word [1]. In each case they used the platform’s “hate, abuse or harassment” reporting option, but X refused to act in the majority of cases [1]. The platform eventually restricted visibility for just two of those 30 messages, and only after British Future’s director emailed X saying he should not be expected to fill out an “onerous” form reporting each one as illegal [1]. Avaes Mohammad, a researcher with British Future’s British South Asian Bridgers cohesion project, said: “Many people will intuitively report racist posts as ‘hate, abuse or harassment’ – but it seems X doesn’t consider it as hate. Our research found that it was only when a post is described as illegal, which they can’t dispute, that they will consider taking it down.” [1] The platform’s stance operates against a backdrop of rising far-right political sentiment on social media. Mohammad noted that in May the N-word slur was used about Badenoch an average of once a day, but on 2 June, after she responded to a speech by Nigel Farage, there were 16 examples in a single day [1]. “The accounts we are reporting are often replete with mentions of Reform and Restore,” he added [1]. X’s selective enforcement mirrors wider challenges platforms have faced in moderating hate speech during politically charged periods. During the Gaza war, social media became a vector for propaganda and dehumanising content, with some Israeli influencers mocking Palestinians and videos of soldiers’ abuse going viral, prompting internal investigations by the Israel Defence Forces [2]. Research from October 2023 found that pro-Palestinian posts vastly outnumbered pro-Israeli ones on TikTok and Instagram [2]. Under the UK’s Online Safety Act, which is being phased in by the communications regulator Ofcom, platforms are obliged to remove illegal content, including racially or religiously aggravated offending [1]. On 15 May, the same day Ofcom announced X had made a voluntary commitment to remove illegal content within a 48-hour window, British Future reported 33 uses of the P-word targeting UK public figures [1]. Forty-eight hours later, none had been removed [1]. X eventually restricted 20 of the tweets within the UK after being contacted by Ofcom, but took no action against the rest [1]. None of the account holders behind the offensive posts have been suspended, including one who used the N-word 45 times in a week [1]. Ofcom said X had committed “to reviewing and assessing UK suspected illegal terrorist and hate content reported through its dedicated UK illegal content reporting tool” within an average of 24 hours, adding: “We’ll be carrying out quarterly reviews of X’s performance.” [1] X did not respond to requests for comment [1].