A graphic video depicting a stabbing, believed to have motivated the assailant in the Southport tragedy, was taken down by TikTok following criticism from victims. The footage showing the stabbing of Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Sydney, Australia, reportedly influenced 19-year-old Axel Rudakubana before his violent outburst that resulted in the deaths of three young girls.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, after Rudakubana’s sentencing in January last year, urged social media platforms to remove violent videos. A recent report on the 2024 triple-killing in Southport, which concluded that the incident could and should have been prevented, revealed that TikTok had committed to deleting the video.
Despite TikTok’s assurance, an investigation revealed that the video was still accessible on an account with 26,000 followers and had been viewed numerous times. TikTok eventually removed the video, citing a breach of guidelines, after being notified by the Mirror.
Bond Turner’s Director of Serious Injury, Chris Walker, representing the families of the deceased children, condemned the continued availability of such distressing content on TikTok. He emphasized the negative impact of such material on society and urged social media companies to prioritize public safety over profits by eliminating such detestable content.
Nicola Ryan-Donnelly, a Serious Injury Solicitor at Fletchers Solicitors representing surviving child victims, criticized social media companies for prioritizing financial gains over user safety. She called for prompt removal of harmful content and stricter regulations on apps sharing such material, especially considering their influence on children.
Lucy Martindale from Operation Shutdown, aiming to hold social media accountable for their role in crime, stressed the urgency of action by platforms to address the dissemination of violent content. Retired Met Police detective Peter Bleksley echoed the sentiment, criticizing TikTok for its lack of effective measures against harmful content.
Rudakubana, before carrying out the attack that resulted in the tragic deaths, searched for the stabbing video shortly before leaving his residence. The video depicted the stabbing of Mr. Emmanuel during a live stream at a church in Sydney.
Despite a warning of sensitive content on the TikTok clip, Rudakubana, who was sentenced to life imprisonment, viewed it before committing the heinous crime. His online search history revealed a fascination with violent material, leading to charges under terrorism laws.
Recent discussions involving Keir Starmer and tech company executives highlighted the detrimental impact of social media on children. Calls for stricter regulations, including a potential social media ban for under-16s, have been emphasized to safeguard youth from harmful online content.