Elon Musk posts to outrage the British government
Fake News on social media is fueling ongoing far-right riots in the UK. Elon Musk, owner of X, is also under scrutiny. According to the London government, his comments on the situation are further fanning the flames.
Comments by Elon Musk on the far-right and anti-Muslim riots in the UK have caused outrage. British government members criticized a post by the multi-billionaire on his platform X. In response to an anti-immigration comment and a video of the riots, Musk wrote: "A civil war is inevitable."
The comment was completely irresponsible, said Justice Minister Heidi Alexander to Times Radio. "We're seeing police officers severely injured and buildings set on fire." Operators of online platforms must exercise their power responsibly. Earlier, the spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer had emphasized that there is no justification for such comments.
New government holds Musk accountable
Musk had shown a good relationship with Starmer's conservative predecessor, Rishi Sunak. In November 2023, they discussed the risks of artificial intelligence at an international security conference. The new Labour government made it clear to representatives of TikTok, Meta, Google, and X at a meeting with Technology Minister Peter Kyle that the companies have a responsibility to stop the spread of misinformation and hate. "There are enormous amounts of content circulating that the platforms need to deal with quickly," said Kyle.
However, the X CEO was not deterred. Under a video clip of Starmer, in which the new prime minister, among other things, announced that he would not tolerate attacks on mosques or Muslim communities, Musk wrote: "Shouldn't you be concerned about attacks on all communities?"
Circulating conspiracy theories
According to experts and media, posts on social media have been fueling the ongoing unrest for days. False news is circulating that the attacker who stabbed three girls in the city of Southport on July 29 was a Muslim migrant. In reality, a 17-year-old born in the UK to Rwandan parents is in custody. This rumor has also been spread by influential accounts and followers of conspiracy theories like British-American influencer Andrew Tate.
Musk is also accused of reinstating bans for known far-right figures like Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, on X. Robinson, who had fled the country and is reportedly on a luxury vacation, has been posting calls for anti-Muslim protests and spreading false news.
In several cities, mostly far-right rioters have been attacking the police for days. Several officers have been injured, and around 400 people have been arrested so far. Across the country, dozens of rioters and looters are being charged, as well as some who are suspected of inciting hate online. Recently, there have been severe riots in the southern English port city of Plymouth and in Belfast. The police in the Northern Irish capital used rubber bullets for the first time in years after being attacked with firebombs and bricks. A man between 50 and 60 years old was seriously injured and taken to a hospital. The police believe he was the victim of a hate crime.
Elon Musk's reinstatement of bans for far-right figures like Tommy Robinson on X has raised eyebrows in the UK. The London government is concerned that Musk's actions could be exacerbating the ongoing far-right riots in the country.
Furthermore, the new Labour government has held tech CEOs like Musk accountable, urging them to take responsibility for stopping the spread of misinformation and hate on their platforms.
