Elon Musk under fire as social media giant X implicated in fuelling UK riots

Musk’s explicit social media posts have allegedly exacerbated tensions, including claims of an impending civil war, criticisms of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and attacks on the British government’s priorities.
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Elon Musk is under fire for his social media posts, which many believe have exacerbated the ongoing riots in Britain. Musk, known for his provocative online presence, has shared riot footage on his platform, X, and made controversial remarks, including predicting a ‘civil war’ and criticising Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the British government for prioritising speech policing over community safety.

The unrest began after a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England, resulted in the deaths of three young girls. Allegedly, false information spread online suggested the attacker was an illegal Muslim immigrant. However, the suspect, Axel Rudakubana, is a 17-year-old born in Cardiff, Wales, with unknown religious affiliation, though his parents are from predominantly Christian Rwanda.

Despite the facts, anti-immigrant protests have erupted in at least 15 cities across Britain, leading to the most significant civil disorder since 2011. Rioters have targeted mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers, with much violence directed at the police.

Prime Minister Starmer has criticised social media companies for allowing violent disinformation to spread. He specifically called out Musk for reinstating banned far-right figures, including activist Tommy Robinson. Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has met with representatives from major tech companies like TikTok, Meta, Google, and X to stress their duty to curb the spread of harmful misinformation.

Publicly, Musk has argued that the government should focus on its duties, mocking Starmer and questioning the UK’s approach to policing speech.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has stated that social media has amplified disinformation, promising government action against tech giants and online criminality. However, Britain’s Online Safety Act, which mandates platforms to address illegal content, will be fully effective next year. Meanwhile, the EU’s Digital Services Act, which Britain is no longer part of, is already in effect.