Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he is taking steps to help shut down social media activity in the UK that incites further violence in Sudan.

The UK strongly condemns the attacks on civilians across Sudan and my Hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, has previously shared details of the UK’s efforts, to stop the violence, ensure that civilians are protected, and bring about safe and unfettered humanitarian access.

The government works closely with the major social media platforms and encourages them to consistently apply their policies, including policies on content that incites violence. Under the new transparency, accountability and freedom of expression duties in the Online Safety Bill, the largest platforms (category 1 services) will be required to have transparent and consistently enforced terms of service.