Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for England and Wales, has issued a stern warning that retweeting racially offensive material on social media could result in arrest, as police ramp up their efforts to monitor online activity. Under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Parkinson revealed that specialized police units are dedicated to identifying and prosecuting those who engage in behavior that incites racial hatred, including those who simply share content from others.
“The offense of incitement to racial hatred involves publishing or distributing material which is insulting or abusive, which is intended to or likely to stir up racial hatred,” Parkinson explained. He emphasized that retweeting such content is considered republishing, which could lead to legal action.
Parkinson also noted that the British government’s crackdown on online hate speech extends internationally. “We have liaison prosecutors around the globe, who’ve got local links with the local judiciary… We would certainly consider extradition if we are satisfied that an offense has been committed,” he warned.
This announcement comes in the wake of mass protests in Britain, sparked by a deadly stabbing by a teenager of migration background. The protests have seen violent clashes with authorities, who have aggressively targeted demonstrators while appearing to show leniency towards Muslim counter-protestors.
Parkinson’s warning underscores the seriousness with which the UK government is treating online hate speech and the potential consequences for those who engage in it, even from abroad.
