Man Falsely Accused of Murder by Tommy Robinson Calls for Stricter Social Media Regulations

Abdul Hai, who was cleared of charges related to the 1994 murder of Richard Everitt, is now calling for stricter regulations on social media platforms. This demand follows an incident where far-right activist Tommy Robinson falsely accused Hai of murder on X (formerly known as Twitter). Hai argues that platforms like X must be held accountable for the spread of disinformation and hate speech, which can have life-changing consequences for victims.

The controversy began when Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted on the anniversary of Everitt’s murder, falsely claiming that Hai had been convicted alongside others for the killing. The post, which stayed on X for over three weeks and garnered over 375,000 views, misrepresented the facts of the case. While one man, Badrul Miah, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder, Hai had been acquitted, with the judge finding no evidence linking him to the crime.

Hai took immediate action by reporting the post and contacting Robinson directly to correct the misinformation. Despite these efforts, the post remained visible until it was taken down three days later, on 16 August 2024. Robinson then reposted a screengrab of the original post, stating that he had deleted it merely to avoid suspension while appealing the platform’s decision.

Hai’s Legal Response to X’s Inaction

Unsatisfied with X’s response, Hai escalated the matter by sending a letter before claim to the platform, arguing that it had failed to enforce its own content policies. The letter demanded the removal of the repost and sought a response by 11 September 2024. While the repost was finally removed on 6 September 2024, X defended its approach, claiming its role was to foster public conversation, even on controversial topics.

However, Hai believes that X and other social media platforms are not doing enough to combat disinformation and hate speech. He is now calling on legislators to introduce laws that hold social media companies accountable for the content they allow on their platforms. Legal experts point to the Online Safety Act, set to come into force in the UK in 2025, as a potential framework for challenging platforms like X. However, pursuing legal action against X remains difficult, as such cases must currently be filed in the United States, where platforms enjoy significant protections from liability for user-generated content.

The Need for Social Media Accountability

Hai emphasised that while freedom of speech is a fundamental right, it comes with responsibilities. He believes social media platforms and their users must be held accountable when they cross the line from free speech into harmful disinformation. A representative for X confirmed that the platform had complied with UK law by removing the post about Hai.

This case highlights the growing concerns about the role of social media in spreading misinformation and the need for stronger regulations to protect individuals from false accusations and reputational damage.

For those in need of assistance regarding legal matters, whether related to defamation, disinformation, or other issues, contact our expert team of solicitors at info@lawdit.co.uk or call us on 02380235979.

By Ajay Pardesi, an LPC graduate from the University of Law.