WASHINGTON (TND) — The worst riots the United Kingdom has seen in years are being fueled by false information online. Rumors claimed a Muslim asylum seeker was the one responsible for a mass stabbing that left three children dead and several more injured at a Taylor Swift-themed event.
The suspect however is a 17-year-old U.K. citizen born in Wales to Rwandan parents.
The head of police is now threatening extradition and jail time to U.S. citizens for online posts allegedly egging on the violence from afar. A Sky News reporter asked London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley about posts made by Elon Musk on the topic.
Rowley responded, “We will throw the full force of the law at people and whether you’re in this country committing crimes on the streets or committing crimes from further afield online we will come after you.”
U.K. authorities have already arrested their citizens for online activity, for example, a 55-year-old woman was arrested for “publishing written material to stir up racial hatred” and “false communication.” Two other British men were also arrested for similar social media posts.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously warned, “I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder whether directly or those whipping up this action online.”
“The government absolutely should arrest and prosecute anyone engaged in political violence… but in times of unrest governments have a tendency to overreach and to undermine civil liberties like free speech in the name of public safety,” explained Aaron Terr with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
The U.K.’s laws surrounding free speech are different than U.S. laws.
While it’s not impossible, it’s highly unlikely that British authorities will go after U.S.-based social media posters like Musk for violating British laws in an online space.
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