- Elon Musk claims UK nearing civil war, sparking spat with PM
- PM’s office and Sir Keir Starmer condemn Musk’s comments
- Tech companies urged to tackle online disinformation fueling riots
Musk, the billionaire owner of X, posted his original comments on the social media network beneath a video of rioters launching pyrotechnics at police.
Elon Musk and the prime minister engaged in a verbal spat after the world’s richest man suggested that the United Kingdom was on the verge of civil war.
Musk, the billionaire owner of X, has started a spat with Downing Street over the riots in the UK amid concerns that online disinformation is fueling the turmoil.
Musk stated, “Civil war is inevitable” in a comment on his social media site underneath a video of protestors blowing off pyrotechnics at police.
This was swiftly refuted by the prime minister’s office, which stated that there is “no justification for comments like that” and that “anyone who is whipping up violence online will face the full force of the law”.
Musk then responded to a social media post by Sir Keir that condemned violence against Muslims.
Far-right demonstrators have targeted mosques and hotels that house asylum seekers.
Sir Keir stated that the turmoil is “not protest, but pure violence” and that “we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or Muslim communities.”
Musk was responding: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on all communities?”.
The controversy threatens government efforts to encourage social media companies to take greater responsibility for eliminating dangerous online content that is thought to be fueling some of the violence.
On Monday evening, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle met with the executives of TikTok, Meta, Google, and X to emphasize their commitment to continuing to collaborate with us to combat the spread of harmful propaganda and incitement.
Speaking after the meeting, the cabinet member added: “There is a significant amount of content circulating that platforms must deal with quickly.”
Different organizations take different tactics, and I expect platforms to ensure that individuals looking to spread hate online are not aided and have no place to hide.
Sir Keir previously headed an emergency COBRA committee on the riots, in which he stated that anyone inciting violence online would face “the full force of the law”.
“It makes no difference whether you incite violence online or offline,” the prime minister added.
As a result, I anticipate that arrests, charges, and prosecution will occur, just as they do for individuals who are physically engaged on the streets.
Similarly, anyone discovered to have committed a criminal offence online should expect the same outcome.
More than 400 people have been arrested since the rioting began last Tuesday.
Devon and Cornwall Police said Monday evening that arrests were made after a police van was damaged and officers encountered “a level of violence” during demonstrations in Plymouth.
Several nations, including Nigeria, Malaysia, and Indonesia, have issued safety advisories to their residents in the UK in response to the rioting.
However, pleas for the army to be deployed have so far been denied, with the government claiming that the police already have the resources needed to respond.
The riots in Southport began after Axel Rudakubana was arrested and charged with the death of three young girls as well as ten counts of attempted murder.
Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, were killed in a knife attack in the Merseyside town last Monday.
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According to online misinformation, the arrested guy was a Muslim immigrant who landed in the UK on a small boat last year.
Rudakubana was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and later moved to a village near Southport.
Andrew Tate, a controversial influencer, fueled the false narrative by claiming that the attacker was an “illegal migrant”.
Separately, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage questioned whether the police who said the attack was not “terror-related” were telling the truth.
Sir Keir stated that there is “an army” of expert police personnel ready to deal with any additional violent disruption.
The prime minister also announced that criminal justice would be “ramped up,” with courts operating for extended hours.
He has requested that those charged be named as soon as possible.
Sir Keir continued, “Whatever the apparent motivation, this is not protest; it is pure violence, and we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or our Muslim communities.”
