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Deadly Crash Spurs Call to Censor Social Media
24 Aug
Summary
- Seven people died in a head-on collision on the A66.
- The crash occurred when a car drove the wrong way.
- Government warns social media to remove dangerous driving content.
A tragic head-on collision on the A66 has claimed the lives of seven individuals, including two police officers. The fatal incident occurred when a car, believed to have cloned plates and driven the wrong way, collided with an armed response vehicle. Authorities reported that police had been pursuing the car for seven minutes before the pursuit was aborted due to the vehicle traveling against traffic flow.
In light of the tragedy and the prevalence of videos showcasing dangerous driving online, Defence minister Luke Pollard has called on social media companies to "step up" and remove such content. He emphasized that platforms hosting videos that "celebrate this type of dangerous behaviour on our roads" must take action. Pollard warned that if self-regulation fails, the government will utilize the powers within the Online Safety Act to compel platforms to remove the material.
Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, stated that social media platforms are obligated under the Online Safety Act to minimize children's exposure to content that encourages dangerous stunts and challenges. The regulatory body has an ongoing investigation into TikTok concerning the effectiveness of its age verification measures. TikTok maintains that it prohibits content depicting dangerous driving and removes rule-breaking videos and accounts.
