Elon Musk’s provocative comments on Britain’s recent riots have sparked a heated political debate and drawn sharp criticism from UK officials. Here’s the full story.
Great Power, No Responsibility
Elon Musk is widely regarded as the world’s richest man. However, a string of recent decisions and statements, ranging from eccentric to menacing, have called into question his power and influence over millions of people through his social media site X, formerly Twitter.
Racist Riots in England
Following over a week of racist and far-right riots which have spread all across England, Musk has repeatedly waded into the discussion over the causes, justifications for and government handling of the violence which has swept the country.
Misinformation and Violence
The unrest, which began after the tragic murder of three young girls in Southport, along with the injury of many others, has been exacerbated by misinformation which has spread like wildfire on social media sites like X, among others. Many accounts had falsely reported that the suspect was an asylum seeker named Ali Al Shakati, who was allegedly on the MI6 watchlist, as being behind the attack.
False Accusations Revealed
This was a lie. The suspected attacker was Axel Rudakubana, born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff, Wales. However, despite this, far-right ‘personalities’ such as Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson (real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon), amplified the post on sites like X, which has increasingly become a haven for far-right rhetoric.
Musk’s Unhinged Opinions
Amidst the ongoing unrest, Elon Musk decided that as the UK was experiencing its worst racist violence in years, the time was right for him to wade into the discussion for one of his infamous and increasingly unhinged political opinions.
“Civil War Is Inevitable”
In response to a lengthy retweet chain which began with the former real estate agent Chaya Raichik’s account Libs of TikTok, a far-right, anti-LGBTQ+, conspiracy-peddling account which has become a stalwart defender of far-right views, Musk replied to a video of the violence tearing at the fabric of UK society, posting, “Civil war is inevitable.”
Prime Minister’s Rebuke
Following Musk’s “civil war” comments, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer rebuked the comment, calling it “unjustifiable”. Musk responded by labelling Starmer “Two Tier Keir,” referencing conspiracy theories which accuse British police of enforcing laws unequally based on race.
Challenges of Tech Influence
In response to Musk’s increasingly bizarre comments, UK Science and Tech Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted the unique challenges posed by interactions with major tech companies like X.
Profound Impact of Musk
In an interview with the Times, Kyle did not mince words regarding the power and influence that people like Musk wield, stating, “Elon Musk has the power to have a profound impact on the outcome of the war between Russia and Ukraine and he is one person who is accountable to no one.” He added, “People who know him say, ‘There’s a lot of depth to him. Never underestimate his intellect.’ But I also don’t underestimate the impact that he can have, not just on public discourse, but on actual facts on the ground.”
Government Negotiations
Kyle went on to compare the negotiations governments have with tech giants like X to those they have with foreign states, telling the Times: “The relationship we have with some of these companies is much more akin to the negotiations with fellow secretaries of state in other countries, simply because of the scale and scope that they have.”
MPs Demand Scrutiny
In response to the riots and Musk’s inflammatory comments, Members of Parliament are pushing for greater scrutiny of X’s role in spreading misinformation and far-right propaganda. Several MPs have expressed a desire to question Musk about his platform’s response to the crisis.
Responsibility of Social Media
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged that social media companies bore some responsibility for allowing misinformation to spread so quickly online, arguing that some sites were negligent in taking down “criminal material that they should be removing.”
Stick to Technology
Others have been more trenchant in their criticism of Musk and his recent interference in British affairs, particularly at such a difficult time for the country.
Stay Out of UK Affairs
Sir Thomas Winsor, a former chief inspector of constabulary, told LBC Radio, “Mr. Musk, it seems to me, should stick to batteries, cars, and rockets because he’s very good at it and leave to the UK authorities the job of dealing with the protection of the safety and security of our communities.”
Unearned Influence
Elon Musk’s involvement in the discourse surrounding the British riots has underscored the unearned and outsized influence that tech moguls can wield in global and domestic affairs.
Power of Misinformation
With Musk able to rile up his millions of followers at the push of a button by posting misleading, inaccurate, or conspiratorial statements, many are beginning to question whether it is wise to place such power in the hands of someone who seems to be undergoing a process of far-right radicalisation in full view of the world.
Future Government Control
However, whether this will finally be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, forcing the world’s governments to finally attempt to wrestle some measure of control back from the unaccountable and increasingly untouchable tech giants on which world communication depends, remains to be seen.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Frederic Legrand – COMEO.