# UK Regulator Says X to Crack Down on Hate Content

**Published:** 2026-05-15T07:00:00.000Z  
**Topic:** Elon Musk In Economic Forum  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/6e3b6240-00f2-4870-b1cc-3ce06008efe2

Ofcom says X has pledged to restrict access to banned terrorist accounts and review illegal content faster following concerns about hate speech.

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has pledged to crack down on hate and terrorist content in Britain, the country’s media regulator announced Friday. Ofcom stated that X’s public commitments include restricting access in the U.K. to accounts operated by or on behalf of terrorist groups that the country has banned [1].

**Key takeaways**
*   X promised to review suspected illegal terrorist and hate content within 24 hours on average [1].
*   The platform aims to assess 85% of flagged material within 48 hours of a user report [1].
*   Ofcom is investigating whether X’s AI chatbot Grok failed to protect users from illegal content [1].
*   French prosecutors have sought charges against Musk and X, including denial of crimes against humanity [1].

## Specific targets and reporting timelines

In addition to restricting access to accounts linked to banned groups, X agreed to specific performance metrics regarding content moderation. The platform promised to review suspected illegal terrorist and hate content within 24 hours on average and to assess 85% of such material no more than 48 hours after users flag it [1]. These measures come in response to concerns from civil society groups that X failed to follow up after illegal content was reported by users [1].

To ensure compliance, X will engage with experts to improve its reporting systems and submit quarterly performance data over a 12-month period. This data will allow Ofcom to compare the platform’s performance against its new targets [1]. A spokesperson for X in the U.K. did not respond to a request for comment regarding the regulator’s announcement [1].

## Rising scrutiny and community safety

Ofcom noted that there is evidence terrorist content and illegal hate speech is "persisting" on social media sites, and it expects tech companies to take "firm action" [1]. Oliver Griffiths, director of Ofcom's online safety group, highlighted the importance of these measures following a number of recent hate-motivated crimes suffered by the country’s Jewish community [1]. Britain’s Jewish community, which numbers about 300,000 people, has reportedly faced growing attacks online and in the streets, including arson attacks and a double stabbing [1].

The announcement arrives amid intensifying global scrutiny of X and its artificial intelligence tools. Ofcom launched an investigation into whether Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot, failed to protect users from illegal content after the tool generated nonconsensual deepfake images [1]. This controversy also prompted European Union regulators to target X over its handling of illegal content, while French prosecutors sought charges last week against Musk and X, including denial of crimes against humanity [1].

## Why it matters

The regulator’s pressure on X aligns with broader legislative efforts in the U.K. to hold tech giants accountable. The government has previously outlined proposals for an Online Harms Bill, which would empower Ofcom to block access to online services that fail to protect users and impose fines of billions of pounds on companies like Facebook [3]. While the proposed legislation focuses on dangers such as child exploitation and terrorism, it also addresses the need to remove content that causes harm to public health or safety [3]. As these laws develop, the commitments made by X represent immediate steps to align with the regulator's expectations for user safety and illegal content removal [1][3].

## Sources
1. Independent — [UK media regulator says X promises to crack down on terrorist](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/elon-musk-london-ofcom-grok-jewish-b2977481.html)
2. Bastillepost — [UK media regulator says X promises to crack down on terrorist](https://www.bastillepost.com/global/article/5857975-uk-media-regulator-says-x-promises-to-crack-down-on-terrorist-and-hate-content)
3. BBC — [Online harms law to let regulator block apps in UK](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55302431)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "UK Regulator Says X to Crack Down on Hate Content", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/6e3b6240-00f2-4870-b1cc-3ce06008efe2