A former Twitter executive is calling for Elon Musk’s arrest over claims he incited civil unrest in the UK, raising serious questions about the power and accountability of tech billionaires. Here’s the full story.
The Downfall of Twitter
Since Elon Musk bought X, formerly known as Twitter, for the princely sum of $44 billion in October 2022, the platform has haemorrhaged both advertisers as the site descended into a hotbed of far-right, racist, antisemitic, homophobic content, with a considerable amount of both mis- and disinformation thrown in for good measure.
Decline in Value
Since Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” took over Twitter, now X, the company’s value has decreased by 71.5%, according to figures recently revealed by Axios.
Banned Accounts Restored
Musk has faced severe criticism throughout his time at the helm of X following his reinstatement of many users previously banned for hate speech. Including those who have seen their accounts restored are suitable agitators Tommy Robinson and Katie Hopkins, a far-right political commentator who once compared asylum seekers fleeing to the UK to “cockroaches.”
Influx of Hate Content
Additionally, racist, homophobic, antisemitic and Islamophobic content, pornography and spam have flooded X, further driving away users, advertisers, and the much-needed money both brought to the platform.
Labour MPs Express Concerns
Recently, several Labour MPs have increasingly expressed concerns about using X due to the perceived deterioration of the platform under Elon Musk’s ownership, with a number of Labour MPs are either quitting or reducing their activity on the platform, citing a rise in hate speech, disinformation, and far-right extremism.
First MP to Quit
Newly elected Labour MP Noah Law is believed to be the first to have deactivated his X account, with several other Labour MPs reportedly debating whether they will follow.
Algorithms Changed for Worse
Josh Simmons, Labour MP for Makerfield, is one of the Members of Parliament who has recently jumped ship, stating, “What matters about Musk is not only what he said, but how he changed X’s algorithms. He’s turned X into a megaphone for foreign adversaries and far-right fringe groups seeking to corrupt our public sphere. Nobody should have that power.”
Civil War Claims
Following the far-right riots which broke out across the UK after the knife attack on a Taylor Swift dance class in Southport, which left three young girls dead, Musk claimed that the far-right riots were a sign that civil war in the UK was “inevitable,” and spread misinformation about the authorities response to the violence.
Comparing Britain to USSR
Musk also compared Britain to the Soviet Union and accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of endorsing a “two-tier” policing system – a conspiracy theory promoted by far-right agitators which assert that the police give preferential treatment to ethnic minority and left-wing protesters over white far-right ones.
Calls for Accountability
Musk’s actions have led to calls for stronger accountability measures targeting both social media companies and their executives have intensified, with Bruce Daisley, a former Twitter executive, writing an excoriating article for the Guardian in which he calls for personal sanctions on the eccentric billionaire, up to and including the possibility of an arrest warrant.
Musk Compared to Teenager
Daisley, who was Twitter’s vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa between 2012-2020, wrote that Musk had “taken on the aura of a teenager on the bus with no headphones, creating lots of noise,” arguing that Starmer should consider whether media regulator Ofcom is “fit to deal with the blurringly fast actions of the likes of Musk.”
Arrest Warrant Suggested
Daisley was scathing in his assessment of what it would take to bring billionaires like Musk to heel, writing, “Were Musk to continue stirring up unrest, an arrest warrant for him might produce fireworks from his fingertips, but as an international jet-setter it would have the effect of focusing his mind. Musk’s actions should be a wake-up call for Starmer’s government to quietly legislate to take back control of what we collectively agree is permissible on social media.”
The Oligarch Question
He added, “The question we are presented with is whether we’re willing to allow a billionaire oligarch to camp off the UK coastline and take potshots at our society. The idea that a boycott – whether by high-profile users or advertisers – should be our only sanction is clearly not meaningful.”
Increased Sanctions Needed
However, Daisley’s damning indictment of Musk’s actions does not stop there, calling for increased sanctions on social media executives like Musk, who allow misinformation to spread on their platforms, or who do it themselves.
Reminded of Liability
He noted, “In the short term, Musk and fellow executives should be reminded of their criminal liability for their actions under existing laws. Britain’s Online Safety Act 2023 should be beefed up with immediate effect.”
Money Over Ideals
According to Daisley, tech companies and moguls fetishise free speech at all costs, not because they have high-minded ideals about the free exchange of ideas but because they are driven by one concern: money.
Moderation Costs Money
He notes that it is cheaper to allow content to proliferate unchecked than to invest in robust moderation systems, like the content moderation teams that Musk unceremoniously fired when he took over Twitter.
Accountability Is Possible
Daisley notes, “We’ve hesitated from labelling tech billionaires as oligarchs because the likes of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey wielded their political power gently. Asking oligarchs to be accountable for what their platforms permit is straightforward and entirely possible.”
Regulations Unfit for Purpose
With the UK government already scrutinising the role social media played in the lightning-fast spread of misinformation, which has been credited with fuelling the recent far-right riots, there is a growing consensus that current regulations governing social media companies are unfit for purpose.
Will Regulation Happen?
However, it remains to be seen whether Daisley’s call for a “beefed-up” Online Safety Act and a more empowered Ofcom will lead to a new era of regulation for big tech companies like X, which have so far avoided it or whether eccentric billionaires like Musk will be allowed to sow discord and promote far-right figures and ideas without any repercussions, personal or otherwise.
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