MPs will summon Twitter/X boss Elon Musk for questioning as part of a new parliamentary inquiry.
Musk is being called on to testify about X’s role in spreading disinformation after the murder of three young girls at a summer dance class in Southport, England. Or, as The Guardian—which earlier this month left the social media platform, citing “far-right conspiracy theories and racism”—put it, for X’s role in the “UK summer riots.”
The newspaper notes that Musk will also be questioned on the rise of artificial intelligence technology.
Requesting Musk to appear before Parliament comes as an additional insult after the Labour government did not invite him to an upcoming international investment summit. Musk responded online that he would rather summon British officials to the U.S. “to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens.”
In another tweet, which will no doubt be discussed during the House of Commons inquiry into social media, Musk added that “I don’t think anyone should go to the UK when they’re releasing convicted pedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts.” Pedophiles were not, in fact, set free under Labour’s recent early release scheme—unless some, like other serious criminals, fell through the cracks. Although some serious sexual offenders were, despite assurances to the contrary.
Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer was criticised for responding to the horrific July 29th Southport attack by clamping down on free speech, particularly in the online sphere. The government warned at the time that social media users must “think before you post” or risk prosecution.
Polling has since suggested that the prime minister is less popular with the British public than Musk. “Low bar, to be honest,” Musk quipped in response.
Executives from Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and from TikTok are also expected to be called in for questioning.
