Guardian analysis: over half of X posts on Belfast and Southampton unrest came from abroad
A Guardian analysis of 8,672 X accounts found that fewer than half the posts about June's unrest in Belfast and Southampton originated in the UK, with most top-viewed posts coming from the US. Experts warn the platform is being exploited to spread divisive narratives.
An analysis by the Guardian has found that more than half of the 8,672 X accounts examined for posts about June's rioting in Belfast and civil disorder in Southampton were based outside the United Kingdom. According to the platform's own location data, only 45.3% of accounts were shown as UK-based, while 16.8% came from the US, 4.5% from Ireland, and roughly a quarter from other European countries.
Seven of the 12 most-read posts about the two events originated from the US, including one from Elon Musk himself and two from other American "alt-right" commentators. Musk's post, published after the killer of 18-year-old Henry Nowak was sentenced to life in prison, has been viewed more than 28 million times.
The findings suggest that American rightwing figures are seeking to shape UK public opinion and boost their own influence on X during moments of unrest. Nearly a third of the roughly 43,000 posts examined contained racist or anti-immigration content, and almost one in ten posts about Belfast included calls for violence or vigilante action.
Background
The unrest in Southampton followed the murder of Henry Nowak, who had initially been wrongly identified by police as the perpetrator of a racist attack rather than its victim. The Belfast riots erupted after an assault in which victim Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye; a Sudanese asylum seeker was charged with attempted murder, and at least 23 people were arrested over three nights of disorder.
Experts including Imran Ahmed of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate and researcher Julia Ebner said such flashpoint events have become "strategic" targets for foreign rightwing actors seeking to amplify divisive narratives and influence UK and European politics. The analysis found no posts traced to Russia or China, though it noted some users may have concealed their location using VPNs.
