KUALA LUMPUR: UK MPs says social media executives should not be reaping enormous profits while there is widespread rioting in the country.

"Platforms such as X, TikTok and Facebook should adhere to the same legal standards as newspapers and television stations," UK's The Sun quoted MPs as saying on Wednesday (Aug 7).

Jordan Parlour, 28, from Leeds was the first to admit inciting violence under the Public Order Act after urging his Facebook followers to attack a hotel housing immigrants and will be sentenced on Friday (Aug 9).

UK politicians have questioned the inaction of tech leaders such as Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg for failing to curb violence by banning accounts that incite violence.

The spread of false information on social media has sparked violence following the murders of three girls in Southport last week.

"It was unacceptable for them to take the profits but not comply with their responsibilities," said Tory MP James Cleverly.

"Tech bosses can't expect to wield power far exceeding that of any newspaper editor without bearing wny responsibilities," added Labour MP Josh Simmons.

Labour MP Chris Curtis said social media bosses need to step-up and address the vile messages stoking division and encouraging violence in recent days.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday said the Online Safety Act enacted last year might require additional powers to tackle misinformation and incitement or violence.

Meanwhile UK's Politico said Elon Musk could be summoned for a grilling by British MPs over X's role in race riots last week and his own incendiary comments about the violence.

Labour MPs said they will press the billionaire X owner and other technology executives to answer questions about the role of social media platforms amid mounting unrest in the UK.

Musk has been in a war of words with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the UK's handling of riots.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/07/social-media-platforms-should-match-newspaper-standards-say-uk-mps