Most X accounts posting about Belfast and Southampton unrest were based outside UK

An analysis revealed that over half of X accounts discussing the June riots in Belfast and civil disorder in Southampton were based outside the UK, with a significant portion originating from the US. These overseas accounts frequently posted racist, anti-immigration comments, and calls for violence, aiming to exploit local tragedies for political influence and to promote far-right narratives. The study highlights the role of X’s algorithms in amplifying such content, particularly during moments of crisis, and points to a potential vulnerability in the UK’s defenses against online manipulation.

• More than 50% of X accounts discussing the June riots in Belfast and Southampton were based outside the UK.
• The US accounted for 16.8% of these accounts, followed by Ireland (4.5%) and other European countries.
• Seven of the 12 most-read tweets about the events originated from the US, including posts from Elon Musk and US ‘alt-right’ commentators.
• Nearly a third of all analyzed tweets contained racist or anti-immigration comments, with almost 10% related to Belfast including calls for violence.
• Security experts warn that the UK is a soft target for online manipulation by overseas actors.
• Foreign actors aim to amplify local tragedies, intensify racist narratives, incite violence, and influence UK and European politics.