Defence Minister Luke Pollard has pressed social media companies to remove content from their platforms that showcases dangerous driving. This call follows a fatal collision in Middlesbrough on Saturday, 22 August 2026, which resulted in seven deaths.
The incident on the A66 involved a Volkswagen Passat, containing five individuals aged between 17 and 23, which crashed head-on with a marked armed response vehicle while driving the wrong way. PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, along with the five occupants of the Passat, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Pollard stated on BBC Radio 5 Live that his department has communicated with social media platforms hosting content celebrating dangerous driving, urging them to take it down. He added that if platforms do not regulate themselves, the government will use powers under the Online Safety Act to compel them to remove such content.
Ofcom has noted that the Online Safety Act requires platforms to minimise children's exposure to content encouraging dangerous stunts and challenges. The regulatory body is currently investigating TikTok regarding its compliance with child safety duties and the effectiveness of its age-checking software. TikTok has denied that its content puts children at risk, stating it prohibits and removes videos that break its rules regarding content that could cause significant physical harm.