Elon Musk and Sir Keir Starmer Clash Over Social Media’s Role in UK Riots: A Deep Dive into the Accusations and Responses

Elon Musk vs. Sir Keir Starmer: What are the allegations between them regarding the UK riots?

The Prime Minister has cautioned that social media company proprietors must prevent the spread of false information, as it is contributing to the unrest occurring on the streets of Britain.

Political correspondent @alixculbertson

Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 5:

Wealthy media mogul Elon Musk has entered into a verbal conflict with Sir Keir Starmer concerning the influence of social media on the recent riots throughout the UK.

A few days following the stabbings in Southport, the owner of X started to retweet messages, shortly after the prime minister issued a stern warning to social media platforms and their operators for permitting the incitement of violence online.

Since Sunday, there have been several disputes between Sir Keir and Musk regarding the matter.

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Here's a chronological breakdown of the dispute:

Thursday, August

In the wake of disturbances stemming from the stabbings in Southport, the Prime Minister suggested that social media platforms played a role in disseminating incorrect information alleging that the perpetrator was a Syrian asylum seeker who had entered the UK last year on a small boat.

He stated: "I must also address the major social media platforms and their leaders: it is evident that the violent unrest was fueled on the internet.

"This too constitutes a criminal act. It's occurring on your property, and legal standards must be maintained in all locations."

Sunday, August

In the days following, Musk started interacting with content on X related to the riots and the individual accused of the stabbing incidents.

This involved a theory that a suspect from Southport who once appeared in a BBC commercial as a child was akin to the individual who attempted to kill Donald Trump appearing in a BlackRock advertisement.

Stay informed on the most recent developments both in the UK and internationally by tuning into Sky News.

On Sunday, the owner of X reacted to a video showing riots by stating that a "civil war is inevitable."

He replied to a different message, stating, "Bringing together clashing cultures without integration will unavoidably lead to conflict."

Explore further: Understanding Starmer's 'standing army' – Effective strategy or not? The far right's takeover of the Southport demonstrations.

Monday, August

Sir Keir's representative replied to Musk's remarks by stating that such comments are unjustifiable and warned that individuals inciting violence on the internet would be met with the strongest legal consequences.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister shared a message on social media platforms, stating, "attacks on mosques and Muslim communities will not be tolerated," along with additional remarks.

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Musk responded, "Shouldn't you be worried about attacks on every community?"

He also replied to a comment suggesting that Christian churches and Jewish synagogues wouldn't receive assistance, calling it "somewhat biased."

Assistance will be offered to these religious sites upon request.

During a recent meeting, Technology Secretary Peter Kyle convened with delegates from several social media giants such as TikTok, Meta, Google, and X, stressing their duty to collaborate continuously with the government in curbing the proliferation of harmful misinformation and incitement.

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Tuesday, August

Musk shared a video that seemingly depicted law enforcement detaining a man due to derogatory remarks he made on Facebook.

"Musk announced on X that he was arrested for posting comments on Facebook!"

"Are we in the UK or in the USSR? Is this correct @Community Notes?"

Community Notes is X's dedicated tool for verifying facts.

In the footage, a policeman is seen informing an individual that he is being detained on allegations of misusing the electronic communications system.

This pertains to transmitting a message that is "extremely offensive or indecent, obscene, or threatening in nature" and could lead to a maximum sentence of six months in prison or a penalty.

Musk shared a video that seemed to depict a sizable group of individuals wearing masks congregating outside a bar, with some participants displaying the Palestinian flag.

"Why is it that not every community in Britain is safeguarded?" he asked again.

He labeled the prime minister as #TwoTierKeir, alluding to claims that the police are showing bias by favoring certain protesters over others.

Musk shared an image from the American TV show Family Guy, depicting the protagonist, Peter Griffin, strapped to an electric chair.

"In 2030, for posting a Facebook comment that displeased the UK government," he stated.

Subsequently, he added a comment to his original post stating: "The funny part is that by 2030, Facebook no longer exists."

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