Social media users just 'clicks away' from Hitler era imagery as tech giants face pressure

Social media giants are under pressure to crackdown on antisemitism after a senior minister warned people are “two or three clicks away” from imagery seen under the Nazi regime. Communities Secretary Steve Reed said people are being radicalised online as he called on tech firms to do more after a terror attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green in north London last week. It comes after Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley over the weekend warned social media is “mainstreaming” antisemitism and pointed to grim research suggesting a fifth of young people don’t believe in the Holocaust. Keir Starmer this morning warned Iran that efforts to stir up violence and hatred in the UK “will not be tolerated” at a meeting with community leaders in Downing Street. It comes amid suspicions Tehran could be supporting attacks against Jews in Britain. Mr Reed called on big tech to do more to “tackle online hatred”. Asked if people were being radicalised on social media, the senior minister told Sky News today: “I think that's absolutely what's happening. People are being pushed towards extremist content very, very quickly. “You're only ever two or three clicks away from imagery that could have come from the Third Reich on social media. If you're a young person growing up and you haven't had proper information about what happened in the Holocaust, all you're seeing is this extremist nonsense, then that starts to warp your thinking and we can't allow that. “So we need to look at how we can work with big tech to tackle online hatred. They need to do more. But I think we all need to do more as a society and the government will play its part, but we genuinely need the whole of society to tackle this.” At a summit in No10 with leaders of community groups, senior Government ministers and police chiefs, Mr Starmer warned tech giants they would face serious punishment if they do not remove extremist content. "We're holding technology companies to account, requiring them to remove illegal extremist content or face serious penalties," he said. The PM vowed to tackle the spread of antisemitism across schools, universities, the health service, online and beyond, warning: "It is also important to recognise that so often this hatred does not begin with violence - it begins with ideas, with misinformation, tropes and conspiracy theories, and with attitudes that, left unchecked, can take root and spread. So, in those spaces where the shoots of antisemitism begin to grow, we are stepping in." He also addressed suspicions Tehran could be backing antisemitic attacks in the UK, warning there would be “consequences” if Iran was found to be behind some of the incidents. The PM said new legislation would be rushed through to tackle “malign threats”. He continued: “One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents. We are investigating, of course, all the possibilities. And we are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case. Our message to Iran or to any other country that might seek to promote violence, hatred or division in society is that it will not be tolerated.” In an interview over the weekend, police chief Sir Mark said Britain faces a “growing tide of antisemitism” driven by conspiracy theories and racist tropes about Jews online. He highlighted one survey suggesting that one in six young people think the Holocaust is a lie and another suggesting that a fifth hold or agree with antisemitic views. He told The Times: “If your social media feeds are driven in a particular direction, you start to get more and more of this material. You end up absorbing and believing it, and that’s dangerous. That’s a battle for all of us.” Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis also piled pressure on media regulator Ofcom to do more to crack down on antisemitism on social media platforms. She wrote on X: “More must be done to tackle antisemitism online - Ofcom’s response has been woeful and enforcement is far too slow. The Government needs to get a proper grip on this - hateful content should be removed within minutes and that requires proper regulation, resources and oversight.”