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X inquiry: Violent video still live after triple murder
12 Nov
Summary
- Violent stabbing video remained accessible on X after the Southport murders.
- X stated the video did not breach platform policies despite its viewing.
- An inquiry found X's refusal to remove graphic content regrettable.
A Southport inquiry has heard that a graphic video showing a bishop being stabbed during a sermon on X, formerly Twitter, remained available to users shortly after Axel Rudakubana viewed it before committing a triple murder. The inquiry was told by Sheen Handoo, X's compliance and safety lead, that the video did not violate the platform's policies and was still accessible to adult UK users with a sensitivity warning.
Handoo offered condolences to the victims and their families, acknowledging X's "very close connection" to the Southport attack. However, she clarified that her statement was not an apology for Rudakubana viewing the content before the killings. The platform maintained that keeping the video was lawful, citing it as a newsworthy event, though an excerpt from the inquiry's interim report deemed X's refusal to remove the graphic stabbing footage "deeply regrettable."
The retired judge presiding over the inquiry made it clear that X had not acted unlawfully under current UK law. However, he expressed criticism for the platform's discretion in not prohibiting the most graphic elements of the stabbing video, especially after it was known Rudakubana had searched for it minutes before the attack. Handoo agreed to review X's current policy regarding such content.
