The British government has called on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms to remove deadly driving videos following a horrific crash that claimed seven lives. The accident happened on Saturday at Middlesbrough in northeast England when a Volkswagen Passat driving the wrong way along the A66 motorway crashed into an armed police response vehicle of Cleveland Police.
Officers Matthew Blades, 37, and Tom Clough, 38, were killed instantly, alongside five young men between the ages of 17 and 23. It is reported that the Passat was carrying cloned number plates and had taken part in criminal activities such as "ramming properties" before the accident. According to reports, one of the deceased teenagers was a previous uploader of dangerous driving videos on TikTok.
Defense Minister Luke Pollard told the BBC that the government has communicated with platforms to "step up" and remove content "celebrating dangerous behaviour on our roads." He warned that tech companies must demonstrate they can police themselves or face action under the UK's Online Safety Act. Leading figures have heavily criticized the glorification of dangerous driving for social media clips, calling it utterly disgraceful.
This event follows a similar incident in Ireland last month where five teens died in a motorway crash caused by driving in the wrong direction. While TikTok and Meta claim they use advanced technology and moderation to block violent and criminal content, videos showing dangerous driving continue to be widely available online, with 17 suspects detained so far in the wider investigation.