X Agrees to Block UK Terrorist Accounts and Speed Up Hate‑Content Review Under Ofcom Deal
Under a new Ofcom agreement, X will block UK users from accessing terrorist‑linked accounts and review at least 85% of flagged hate content within 48 hours.
TL;DR
X has pledged to prevent UK access to accounts tied to proscribed terrorist groups and to review at least 85% of flagged terrorist and hate content within 48 hours. Ofcom’s Oliver Griffiths said the platform will implement stronger protections for UK users, which the regulator will monitor closely.
Context
The deal comes after months of scrutiny over how social media platforms handle extremist material. Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, said the commitments are part of a broader push to ensure companies have effective systems for removing terrorist and hate content. The agreement also aligns with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which requires platforms to protect users from illegal material such as terror‑related posts.
Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, has faced repeated criticism over its moderation since the $44 billion takeover in 2022. Last year Amnesty International accused the platform of amplifying hate during riots that followed the Southport murders. The new commitments aim to address those concerns while Ofcom continues an investigation into X’s use of its Grok AI tool to generate manipulated images of women and girls.
Key Facts
Under the agreement, X will block UK users from accessing any account that posts illegal terrorist content or is linked to a proscribed terrorist organisation.
It will also review at least 85% of terrorist and hate content flagged by its internal reporting tool within 48 hours.
Ofcom’s online safety group director Oliver Griffiths stated that X has committed to stronger protections for UK users, which the regulator will monitor closely.
What It Means
The measures give UK users a clearer barrier against extremist propaganda while increasing the speed at which harmful content is assessed. By tying the review timeline to a specific percentage, Ofcom can measure compliance more objectively.
Critics note that the pledge is a start but argue that broader issues, such as racism and misinformation, remain unresolved. Observers will watch whether X can sustain the promised levels of enforcement without compromising user experience.
Regulators will publish quarterly compliance reports, and the next milestone to watch is whether X meets the 85% review target in the first reporting period.
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