X faces backlash as research reveals failure to remove racist abuse against Kemi Badenoch
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4 days · 5 summary articles
Social media platform X has been accused of granting racists impunity after refusing to remove dozens of posts reported as hate speech, abuse or harassment targeting prominent UK politicians, including Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch. In May, researchers from the social inclusion thinktank British Future documented 30 posts from this year alone in which Badenoch was called the N-word. Despite repeated reporting through the platform’s hate, abuse or harassment channels, X took no action in the majority of cases, according to the findings published today.
The revelations come amid heightened racial tensions in Northern Ireland, where this week’s unrest in Belfast has been described as a “masterclass in how to incite a racist riot on social media.” A FactCheck editor at *TheJournal.ie* detailed how online trends fuelled disorder, with organisers exploiting the platform’s lax moderation to amplify inflammatory content. Thousands have since taken to the streets of Belfast to protest racism, with local residents telling Dutch newspaper *Trouw* that people are now living in fear.
The pattern of inaction extends beyond individual slurs. Posts containing the P-word and other racial epithets directed at Labour MPs Shabana Mahmood and Zia Yusuf were also left online, despite formal complaints. British Future’s report, published on the same day as the Belfast unrest coverage, underscores a systemic failure to protect elected officials from racially motivated abuse. “X’s refusal to act sends a dangerous signal that such behaviour is permissible,” said a spokesperson for the thinktank.
The timing of the revelations has intensified scrutiny of X’s content moderation policies, particularly as political leaders face growing threats. In a separate development, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu today rejected calls for a single legislative response to child sexual violence, arguing that a comprehensive approach is required following the high-profile death of Lyhanna. Meanwhile, former crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried’s appeal against a 25-year prison sentence for fraud was rejected by an appeals court in Austria, as reported by *Der Standard*.
As protests continue in Belfast and political figures demand accountability, the dual crises—online hate speech and real-world unrest—highlight the urgent need for consistent enforcement of platform rules. With no immediate indication that X will change its stance, the question remains: who will protect public figures from the torrent of abuse flooding social media?
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