The UK government is urging social media platforms to proactively remove content that celebrates dangerous driving, following a tragic collision near Middlesbrough that claimed the lives of two police officers and five other individuals. Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the act of sharing such footage as "truly reprehensible," while government officials emphasized that platforms must do more to curb the distribution of videos that incentivize reckless behavior for views and financial gain.

Defence Minister Luke Pollard stated that social media companies possess the technical capability to adjust their algorithms and remove harmful content, noting that financial incentives often drive users to post increasingly dangerous material. A Downing Street spokesperson confirmed that the government fully supports the regulator, Ofcom, in taking action against platforms that fail to meet their legal obligations under the Online Safety Act.

The call for stricter moderation follows a fatal incident on the A66, where a vehicle traveling the wrong way collided with a police car. While investigations into the crash are ongoing, Cleveland Police have stated there is currently no evidence that the activities leading up to the collision were filmed specifically for social media. However, concerns remain regarding the broader trend of filming illegal driving for online engagement.

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TikTok, which has faced scrutiny over videos previously linked to one of the deceased passengers, stated that its policies prohibit content depicting significant physical harm. The platform noted that it actively removes content violating these rules and that the vast majority of such removals are performed proactively. Meanwhile, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, also confirmed it prohibits high-risk driving challenges and restricts access to such content for users under 18.

Ofcom has confirmed it is currently investigating TikTok’s compliance with child safety duties and maintains that platforms are legally required to minimize exposure to content that promotes dangerous activities. Government officials have reiterated that they are prepared to use the full extent of the Online Safety Act to ensure these platforms address the issue.

Source: BBC News