Social media companies will be fined up to £60,000 each time a post relating to knife crime is not removed from their sites in a bid to stop children viewing «sickening» content.
The new sanction expands on previously announced plans to fine individual tech executives up to £10,000 if their platforms fail to remove material advertising or glorifying knives following 48 hours of a police warning.
It means tech platforms and their executives could collectively face up to £70,000 in penalties for every post relating to knife crime they fail to remove, with the new laws applying to online search engines as well as social media platforms and marketplaces.
Crime and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said the content that young people scroll through every day online «is sickening» adding: «That is why we are now going further than ever to hold to account the tech companies who are not doing enough to safeguard young people from content which incites violence, particularly in young boys.»
The sanctions for tech platforms will be introduced via an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill.
It is separate to the Online Safety Bill, which aims to protect children from online harm, which some campaigners and parents have criticised for not going far enough.
The Home Office said today’s announcement follows «significant consultation» with the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, launched by Sir Keir Starmer in September as part of his bid to half knife offences in a decade.
Patrick Green, chief executive of The Ben Kinsella Trust, a knife prevention charity which is part of the coalition, welcomed the measure, telling Sky News social media companies have «proved themselves to be incapable of self-regulation».
«There’s been a real reluctance of social media companies to take action sufficiently quickly. It’s shameful, we shouldn’t need legislation,» he said.
The Ben Kinsella Trust is named after teenager Ben Kinsella who was fatally stabbed in 2008 on the way home from the pub after celebrating his GCSEs.
Months earlier, Ben had written to then prime minister Gordon Brown to urge his government to tackle knife crime.
Knife crime rates soar
However, the problem has soared since then.
In the year to March 2024, there were 53 teenage victims aged 13-19 in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is a 140% increase on the 22 teenage victims a decade earlier.
Ben Kinsella was just 16 when he was fatally stabbed in June 2008
Overall, police recorded 54,587 knife-related offences in 2024, up 2% on the previous year and more than double the 26,000 offences recorded in 2014.
Mr Green told Sky News that while knife crime has been happening «long before social media took hold», online content glamorising the possession of a knife is hindering efforts to reduce it.
«There will be pictures of these knives [on social media] with ‘follow me’ luring young people onto places where these knives are sold.
«It has never been easier for a child to buy a knife.» However, while acknowledging the recent announcement, it was stated that social media is just «one part of a larger problem.» The individual mentioned that the reduction in youth services and the need for more comprehensive action are critical. The government’s strategy to reduce knife crime includes banning certain types of knives, implementing a surrender scheme, and enforcing stricter laws for online retailers. Additionally, there are plans to increase prison sentences for selling weapons to minors and introduce a new offense for possessing a weapon with intent for violence. Despite these measures, concerns were raised about the effectiveness of enforcing the sanctions, especially regarding online content that promotes violence. The government was urged to address the culture that glorifies knife use and ensure there are strong consequences. Social media companies will now face fines for failing to remove posts related to knife crime, with the aim of protecting young people from harmful content. These sanctions will be introduced through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, separate from the Online Safety Bill. This decision follows consultations with the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, with support from organizations like The Ben Kinsella Trust, who have criticized social media companies for their lack of self-regulation. He expressed, «It’s disgraceful, we shouldn’t have to rely on legislation.»
The Ben Kinsella Trust, named after teenager Ben Kinsella who was fatally stabbed in 2008, aims to address the issue of knife crime. Despite efforts to combat the problem, knife-related offenses have increased significantly, with a 140% rise in teenage victims in England and Wales over the past decade.
Knife crime continues to be a pressing issue, with a total of 54,587 knife-related offenses recorded in 2024. The rise of social media has also played a role in glamorizing knife possession among young people, making it easier for them to access these weapons.
While welcoming the government’s plans to reduce knife crime, critics argue that more comprehensive measures are needed. Banning certain types of knives and introducing stricter laws for online retailers are steps in the right direction, but addressing the root causes of knife crime, such as the lack of youth services and societal influences, is crucial.
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty highlighted the challenge of policing online content that promotes violence and criminality. While measures to reduce knife crime are important, enforcing these sanctions effectively remains a concern. Critics suggest that tackling the underlying culture that glorifies knife crime is essential, rather than solely relying on legislative measures. Social media companies will now face fines of up to £60,000 for every post related to knife crime that is not removed from their platforms. This new measure builds upon previous plans to penalize individual tech executives with fines of up to £10,000 if their platforms fail to take down content that advertises or glorifies knives within 48 hours of a police warning.
The expanded sanction means that tech platforms and their executives could collectively be fined up to £70,000 for each post pertaining to knife crime that remains on their sites. These penalties will apply not only to social media platforms but also to online search engines and marketplaces. Crime and policing minister Dame Diana Johnson emphasized the need for stronger action against online content that incites violence, particularly among young boys.
The introduction of these fines for tech platforms will be implemented through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. It is important to note that this initiative is separate from the Online Safety Bill, which aims to protect children from harm online but has faced criticism for not being comprehensive enough. The Home Office stated that today’s announcement follows extensive consultation with the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime, spearheaded by Sir Keir Starmer as part of efforts to reduce knife-related offenses.
Patrick Green, chief executive of The Ben Kinsella Trust, a knife prevention charity involved in the coalition, welcomed the new measure. He expressed disappointment in social media companies’ lack of self-regulation and their reluctance to act swiftly in removing harmful content. Green emphasized the necessity of legislation to hold these platforms accountable for their role in perpetuating knife crime.
The Ben Kinsella Trust, named after teenager Ben Kinsella who was tragically stabbed to death in 2008, advocates for greater awareness and prevention of knife crime. Statistics reveal a concerning rise in knife-related incidents, with a 140% increase in teenage victims aged 13-19 in England and Wales over the past decade. Police recorded 54,587 knife-related offenses in 2024, marking a 2% increase from the previous year and more than double the number recorded in 2014.
Green highlighted that while knife crime existed before the advent of social media, online platforms have exacerbated the issue by glamorizing knife possession. He pointed out that social media content promoting knives and encouraging viewers to visit sites where knives are sold can impede efforts to combat this epidemic. The proliferation of images and messages that glorify knives on social media platforms poses a significant challenge in addressing and reducing knife crime among young people.
In conclusion, the new fines imposed on social media companies for failing to remove knife crime-related content underscore the government’s commitment to holding tech platforms accountable for the harmful material circulating on their sites. By imposing financial penalties, authorities aim to incentivize greater responsibility and proactive measures to safeguard young individuals from exposure to violent and dangerous content online.
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