Keir Starmer signalled that a firmer crackdown on social media may be in the works after the London mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his concerns.
After a week and a half of far-right riots – partially driven by social media disinformation and online conspiracy theories – Khan said the government has “very swiftly” realised the Online Safety Act needs to be amended.
The mayor added: “I think it is not fit for purpose.”
The Online Safety Act became law last October, and allows regulator Ofcom to fine social media companies up to £18m or 10% of their global turnover if they do not take illegal content off their platforms.
However, these fines will not come into effect fully until 2025.
On Friday, the prime minister was asked for his response to Khan’s comments.
He said: “I do agree that we’re going to have to look more broadly at social media after this disorder, but the focus at the moment has to be on dealing with the disorder and making sure that our communities are safe and secure.”
Starmer added: “This is not a law-free zone. And I think that’s clear from the prosecutions and sentencing. Today we’re due sentencing for online behaviour.”
Two people linked to inciting the violence seen all over the UK in the last few days online have now been jailed.
The PM continued: “That’s a reminder to everyone that whether you’re directly involved or whether you’re remotely involved, you’re culpable, and you will be put before the courts if you’ve broken the law.”
He said tech bosses should be “mindful of the first priority, which is to ensure that our communities are safe and secure”.
Starmer did not directly mention the boss of X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, who has been in a war of words with the PM over the riots.
He responded to various clips of extremists clashing with the police, claiming “civil war in inevitable” in the UK and pushing conspiracy theories like “two-tier policing”.
Khan, one of the most high-profile Muslim politicians in the UK, also told the Guardian on Thursday that he felt “triggered” by the racist riots.
He said: “I’m somebody who grew up in the 1970s and 80s and experienced the National Front and the BNP and I thought that’s behind us.
“Like a lot of people of my generation, I felt triggered by the events of the last couple of weeks in particular.”
Khan has regularly faced abuse online too – but he noted it was not “realistic” to boycott any social platforms.
“One of the ways we can address people’s fears is using the medium that’s used by citizens and that is social media platforms.” he said.