Starmer called for ‘tough sanctions’ against Telegram three years ago
Campaigners have criticised a 'lack of action' against the instant messaging app being used by far-right groups to plan unrest across the UK
Sir Keir Starmer three years ago called for “tough sanctions” against the social media messaging app linked to this week’s riots, it has emerged.
In October 2021, the Labour leader described Telegram as the “app of choice for extremists” and urged the then Conservative government led by Boris Johnson to launch a crackdown. But the current Prime Minister has now been criticised for failing to take action against the platform, in the wake of riots following last week’s attack in Southport.
Telegram, which allows users to send instant encrypted messages, has been used by far-right groups to co-ordinate unrest – including a plan to target up to 39 immigration centres and law firms across the country at the same time on Wednesday evening. Anti-racist group Hope Not Hate criticised the “lack of action” against the “hub for violent extremists”. There are growing calls for Telegram to enforce a strict ban on channels that have been found to be instrumental in organising riots and inciting violence. In a sign of the deepening crisis, the Prime Minister is chairing his second Cobra meeting in as many days on Tuesday evening. Ministers and police chiefs will use the emergency meeting to [discuss] ways to respond to violent disorder ahead of the Wednesday’s expected extremist action. Since the riots erupted – fuelled by misinformation about the identity of the alleged Southport attacker – Sir Keir has pledged to come down hard on those responsible for the unrest – both in person and online.
Last week he warned social media companies that they had a responsibility to uphold laws banning the incitement of violence and racism. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle held talks with Meta, Google, X and TikTok on Monday, urging them to ensure that those behind the disorder had “nowhere to hide” online.
Yet the talks did not include Telegram, and the Government declined to answer whether the company had been asked to take part. There have been no fresh measures against Telegram or other social media firms since the riots erupted.
In October 2021, in the wake of the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, Starmer told the Commons: “Telegram has been described as the ‘app of choice’ for extremists. If you can believe it, Mr Speaker, as we were paying tribute to Sir David on Monday – as we were paying our respects – Telegram users were able to access videos of murders and violent threats against politicians, the LGBT community, women and Jews.
“Some of those posts are illegal; all of them are harmful. Hope Not Hate and the Board of Deputies have said that Telegram ‘has facilitated and nurtured a subculture that cheerleads for… terrorists’.
“Tough sanctions are clearly needed, yet under the Government’s current proposals, directors of platforms failing to crack down on extremism would still not face criminal sanctions. Why is that?”
Asked on Tuesday about Sir Keir’s call for tough sanctions three years ago, Joe Mulhall, director of research for Hope Not Hate, said: “Over the past week we have once again seen how Telegram has been used by extreme figures to spread hate and organise events that have resulted in horrifying violence on the streets of the UK.
“Certain Telegram groups have played a central role in directing individuals to attack mosques and accommodation housing asylum seekers. We have also seen death threats towards politicians circulating on the platform.
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