Tech Execs Could Be Held Liable for Failing to Remove Illegal Knife Ads

Zombie-style knives in an undated file photo. Joe Giddens/PA

Tech industry executives who fail to tackle illegal knife sales on their sites could face fines from police under new government plans.

Senior executives of online companies could be ordered to remove adverts for illegal knives within two days of a police notice or risk being fined up to £10,000.

The proposals, published by the Home Office on Wednesday, are part of the government’s pledge to halve knife crime over the next decade. Under government plans, the police will be given powers to send content removal notices to online marketplaces and platforms.

The notice would first be sent to companies and their senior executives. Failure to remove specific content, potentially within 48 hours, will make the tech executives personally liable and open to civil action.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that measures targeting online sales of illegal knives will help tackle the epidemic of knife crime that is “devastating families and communities right across the country.”

“That means tough new sanctions for technology executives who fail to tackle illegal knife sales on their platforms, and a comprehensive ban on ninja swords,” Cooper said in a statement.

Under current legislation, it is illegal to manufacture, sell, or hire prohibited offensive weapons. It is also an offence to market a knife as a weapon suitable for combat and inflicting injury.

Although the legislation was introduced before the development of online marketplaces, social media, and messaging platforms, these provisions remain relevant.

The Online Safety Act 2023 makes social media companies and online search services responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms. Under the act, providers must take down illegal content when it appears.

However, the Home Office said that stronger action is needed when it comes sale of prohibited offensive weapons and illegal marketing of knives.

“We want to ensure that the police are able to require a platform or marketplace to take swift action.

“If online companies and services fail to remove illegal content relating to knives and offensive weapons swiftly then the government believes that senior executives should be personally liable for the failure of the platform or marketplace to respond and take action,” the Home Office said.

‘Full Force of the Law’

The announcement follows the recent government ban on zombie-style knives and machetes, which came into effect in September. Zombie-style knives and machetes were added to the list of already banned items under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, such as butterfly knives, samurai swords, and push daggers.

“Those who enable or perpetrate these crimes must face the full force of the law,” said Cooper.

A consultation to finalise the legal description of ninja swords was published by the Home Office on Wednesday. The home secretary called it the “first step” in bringing forward changes in the law.

The new powers will also support the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) in its review into actions needed to stop knives being sold illegally online.

“For far too long, deadly weapons have been far too easily accessible online, with content promoting their use for protection and combat rife on many platforms and seemingly little being done to remove it.

“We welcome the chance to take part in the consultation and explore the most effective means of achieving this, including using the findings of the ongoing online sales review,” said the NPCC’s lead for knife crime Stephen Clayman.

He is expected to report the review’s findings to the Home Office by the end of January 2025.