- London is criticizing Elon Musk for his comments about Randall.
Comments by Elon Musk on the far-right and anti-Muslim riots in the UK have sparked outrage. British government members criticized a post by the multi-billionaire on his online platform X, where he wrote in response to an anti-immigration comment and a video of the riots: "A civil war is inevitable."
Justice Minister Heidi Alexander told Times Radio that the comment was "wholly irresponsible," adding, "We're seeing police officers seriously injured and buildings set on fire." She said that operators of online platforms must exercise their power responsibly. Earlier, the spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer had emphasized that there was no justification for such comments.
Musk had previously demonstrated a good relationship with Starmer's Conservative predecessor, Rishi Sunak. In November 2023, the two discussed the risks of artificial intelligence at an international security conference.
The new Labour government made it clear at a meeting with technology minister Peter Kyle and representatives of TikTok, Meta, Google, and X that the companies have a responsibility to stop the spread of misinformation and hate speech. "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 announced, among other things, that he would not tolerate attacks on mosques or Muslim communities, Musk wrote: "Shouldn't you be concerned about attacks on all communities?"
Experts and media estimate that posts on social media are fueling the ongoing unrest, which has been going on for days. False news is circulating that the attacker who stabbed three girls to death in the city of Southport on July 29 was a Muslim migrant. In reality, a 17-year-old is in custody, born in the UK to parents from Rwanda.
The rumor was also spread by influential accounts and followers of conspiracy theories, such as 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 holiday, has been posting calls for anti-Muslim protests and spreading false news.
Heavy riots in Plymouth and Belfast
In several cities, predominantly far-right rioters have been attacking the police for days. Several officers have been injured, and around 400 people have been arrested so far. Nationwide, dozens of rioters and looters are being charged, as well as some who are suspected of inciting hate online. Recently, there have been heavy 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 by rioters 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.
The British government strongly condemns Musk's comment about an impending civil war, viewing it as incendiary and potentially harmful in the context of the ongoing riots. In light of this, it emphasizes the need for online platforms to uphold justice and responsibility in promoting peaceful discourse.
The police, dealing with the riots in several cities, have expressed concern about the role of misinformation and hate speech on social media in exacerbating tensions, urging technology companies to take greater steps to combat this.
