Attorney General’s office becomes first to step back from X, signalling unease within government over disinformation, online incitement and the platform’s influence during periods of unrest, reports Asian Lite News Desk
The United Kingdom’s Attorney General has directed his department to halt routine use of the social media platform X, marking the first known withdrawal by a government office from the site amid growing concern over online disinformation and its real-world consequences, according to a news report.
Officials confirmed that the office of Richard Hermer has stopped posting on X, the platform owned by Elon Musk, following a decision taken in the aftermath of recent unrest in parts of the country, The Guardian reported.
The department’s last post was published on Friday, and internal guidance now restricts activity on the platform except in cases where it is necessary to directly counter false or misleading information circulating online.
The move sets a precedent within Whitehall, where most departments have continued to maintain a presence on X despite mounting criticism of its content moderation policies and the tone of discourse it hosts. Government officials have previously defended their use of the platform on the grounds that it remains a key channel for communicating with the public, particularly during fast-moving events.
However, the Attorney General’s decision reflects a shift in thinking among some senior figures, who are increasingly uneasy about the role social media can play in amplifying tensions. The restriction follows incidents of disorder in Southampton and Belfast earlier this month, both of which were linked to narratives that spread rapidly online.
In Southampton, violence broke out after misinformation circulated around a fatal stabbing involving a teenager. Eleven police officers were injured as crowds gathered, some citing online claims that later proved inaccurate. Days later in Belfast, unrest erupted after calls for protests were shared widely on social media following a separate stabbing incident involving a refugee. The violence saw attacks on properties linked to minority ethnic communities and disruption to essential workers, with one Northern Ireland MP likening the scenes to a targeted campaign against vulnerable groups.
In both cases, officials believe online actors played a significant role in escalating tensions, with posts encouraging mobilisation and framing events in inflammatory terms. Concerns have been heightened by the visibility such content can achieve on platforms with limited moderation or rapid amplification mechanisms.
While Hermer is understood to recognise the argument for maintaining a presence on widely used platforms, his decision underscores a growing divergence within government on how to balance communication needs against the risks posed by digital spaces. The Attorney General’s office is said to have concluded that continued routine engagement on X could undermine efforts to promote responsible public discourse.
The issue has also reached the highest levels of government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had earlier warned that stronger action could be considered if platforms failed to address harmful content, particularly following concerns over synthetic and explicit material generated by artificial intelligence tools linked to X. The company subsequently took steps to address those specific issues.
Despite that, Downing Street has so far resisted calls for broader restrictions, instead pointing to the role of the regulator Ofcom in overseeing platform compliance under existing laws. Any enforcement action through regulatory channels is expected to take time, leaving a gap between emerging risks and formal responses.
Ministers are now considering amendments to the Online Safety Act aimed at accelerating the removal of harmful content during periods of heightened tension such as riots or public emergencies. These measures are not expected to come into force until mid-July at the earliest.
Against this backdrop, the Attorney General’s decision is likely to intensify debate within government over whether continued reliance on major social media platforms is sustainable, particularly when their role in shaping public narratives comes under increasing scrutiny.
