Micheál Martin hits out at social media platforms over 'mindless, ill-informed stuff' sparking violent protests

Defence Minister said he was 'very concerned' about what was happening in Britain and Belfast and the level of violence involved, saying governments have to tackle social media giants

There were violent clashes in Belfast during an anti-immigration protest at the weekend.

The "appalling" violence in Britain and the North in recent days stems from "mindless, ill-informed stuff" facilitated by social media platforms, with Elon Musk's X particularly problematic, according to Tánaiste Micheál Martin.

The Defence Minister admitted he was "very concerned" about what was happening in Britain and Belfast and the level of violence involved, saying governments have to tackle social media giants, only some of whom are cooperating with nations' leaders.

He singled out Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter. 

‘I think Elon Musk and I think X is problematic; they have a totally different approach in this” he said.

”Some social media platforms cooperate with state authorities, others don't."

The Telegram platform was used during the Dublin riots, and there was massive traffic from North America during that event that was "pumped" into platforms in Ireland, he claimed.

Speaking on Radio Kerry during a visit to Killarney, Mr Martin said many of the people attacked in Belfast had been there for 35 years.

The level of violence we are seeing in Britain we are seeing in Northern Ireland and to a lesser extent in the Republic simply has to stop. 

"The level of aggression and hate that comes from that is something we should have no part of in Ireland," he said.

In a democracy, there is no issue with people protesting and arguing and advocating for particular positions, so therefore there is no need to be wearing balaclavas and material that is intimidating to people, Mr Martin added.

There is a lot of uninformed stuff in terms of the wider migration issue, he claimed.

“I am very taken aback at what has happened in Britain in terms of the nature and scale of violence, and the undermining of basic values and principles that we’ve all lived by in democracies.” 

Respect for difference is fundamental to our value system, Mr Martin said.

There is “a real issue” with social media platforms, according to the Tánaiste.

A much firmer line has to be taken by governments in terms of social media and facilitation of online needless aggression and violence on the streets, Mr Martin said.