The exchange highlights the tension between the two leaders, with Musk’s comments being seen as inflammatory and Starmer’s response emphasizing the need for calm and protection for all communities…reports Asian Lite News
PM Keir Starmer and Elon Musk engaged in a heated exchange after Musk predicted “civil war is inevitable” in the UK amid violent unrest.
Musk’s comment, made in response to a video of fireworks being aimed at police, was swiftly criticised by the Prime Minister’s spokesperson, who said, “There is no justification for such comments”, as reported by BBC.
Musk responded to Starmer’s post condemning attacks on mosques and Muslim communities, asking, “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on all communities?”
Starmer’s original post emphasized the need to protect all communities, but Musk’s reply suggested he believed Starmer was being selective in his condemnation.
The exchange highlights the tension between the two leaders, with Musk’s comments being seen as inflammatory and Starmer’s response emphasizing the need for calm and protection for all communities.
Elon Musk sparked further controversy by sharing a video of an online comment-related arrest, questioning, “Is this Britain or the Soviet Union?” and implying a “one-sided” police response. Justice Minister Heidi Alexander strongly condemned Musk’s remarks as “totally unjustifiable” and “pretty deplorable.”
The unrest, now in its sixth day following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport, has been inflamed by online misinformation, far-right groups, and anti-immigration sentiment. Alexander’s quote emphasizes her strong disapproval of Musk’s comments, stating they are “totally unjustifiable” and “pretty deplorable.”
Authorities have denied accusations of two-tier policing, with Alexander calling them “baseless assertions.” Instead, she emphasized social media companies’ “moral responsibility” to help calm the situation and combat misinformation.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson echoed this, stating that social media firms must prevent the sharing of criminal activity, including posts amplified by state actors.
As Adam Leon Smith, a BCS fellow, noted, “When misinformation leads to riots and unrest, there must be consequences.”
He urged Ofcom to consider fining X for its role in the unrest and called for the enforcement of the Online Safety Act to hold platforms accountable.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle met with representatives from major tech companies to reinforce their responsibility in curbing the spread of hateful misinformation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper also emphasized the government’s intolerance for “armchair thuggery” and called on social media companies to take responsibility.
The BBC contacted social media platforms about the recent disorder, but Snap (Snapchat’s parent company) said it hadn’t been contacted by the government.
UK law prohibits inciting violence, harassment, and rioting, and the new Online Safety Act will require social media firms to act against such content.
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