Anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson has had his account reinstated on social media platform X, previously Twitter.
Robinson, whose actual identify is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was reinstated alongside political commentator Katie Hopkins.
Hopkins was banned in 2020 and Robinson’s account was suspended in 2018 – Twitter accused each of breaking its guidelines on hateful conduct.
A variety of controversial figures have been allowed again on the platform because it was purchased by Elon Musk final 12 months.
In November 2022, Mr Musk – a self-styled “free speech absolutist” – introduced a “general amnesty” to suspended accounts that had “not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam”.
Research by BBC Monitoring discovered that of 1,100 reinstated accounts it examined, almost 190 had been selling hate and violence.
X has additionally reinstated the controversial influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate, whose accounts are banned by YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Nick Lowles, chief govt of anti-hate campaigners Hope Not Hate, criticised the newest transfer by X.
“Reinstating Tommy Robinson and Katie Hopkins means Elon Musk is allowing hateful content and misinformation to take place on his watch on X/Twitter,” he stated.
The group stated it could be writing to X to “make it clear the danger that their content poses”.
Hopkins had a couple of million followers on the time of her authentic ban.
Following her reinstatement she posted on X: “Thank you @elonmusk. And thank you to all the Twitter family who have brought Tommy & I back to @X.
“Know this. You are usually not alone. We are many. And we’re stronger collectively. The struggle again in your freedom is on.”
Robinson founded the far right English Defence League, best known for protests against what it calls “radical Islam”, however stepped down in 2013.
In July 2021 Robinson was ordered to to pay £100,000 in libel damages to a Syrian schoolboy who was filmed being attacked in a playground.
In two videos posted to Facebook, Robinson made a number of false accusations about the boy.
In November 2013, Robinson pleaded guilty to fraud, and he was subsequently jailed for 18 months.
He also has convictions for stalking, assault, using someone else’s passport, using threatening behaviour and contempt of court.
The BBC has approached X for remark.
