Report: UK Parliamentary Committee to Summon Musk to Misinformation Inquiry
It has been reported that X owner Elon Musk will be summoned to the UK's House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee's inquiry into social media, misinformation, and harmful algorithms....
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Facts
- It has been reported that X owner Elon Musk will be summoned to the UK's House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee's inquiry into social media, misinformation, and harmful algorithms.[1][2]
- Speaking to POLITICO, chair Chi Onwurah claimed that she 'very much hope[d]' Musk would like to talk to the committee as he was 'the most senior representative of X' and had 'very strong views on misinformation, communication, free speech and society.'[3]
- Labour lawmaker Dawn Butler told POLITICO in August that the committee had to 'question all owners of social media platforms.' The first of the inquiry's hearings are expected to take place next year.[4][5]
- During unrest following the stabbing of three girls in Southport in August, Musk claimed that UK police 'seem[ed] one-sided' in favor of Muslim communities, while also stating that 'civil war is inevitable.' Earlier this week, Musk also alleged the UK was going 'full Stalin.'[6][7]
- This comes as Labour peer and US ambassador candidate Lord Peter Mandleson has called for the UK Government to use Reform UK leader Nigel Farage 'as a bridge to Musk.' In contrast, UK technology secretary Peter Kyle said he was considering leaving X having enjoyed the platform 'in the past.'[8][9]
- UK parliamentary rules state that committees and subcommittees have the power to formally 'send for persons, papers and records.' While committees in each House can ordinarily report contempt if a witness refuses to attend, they are not able to compel overseas individuals to give evidence.[10]
Sources: [1]Committees, [2]Bloomberg, [3]POLITICO (a), [4]POLITICO (b), [5]Guardian, [6]BBC News, [7]X, [8]Independent, [9]The Times and [10]Erskinemay.
Narratives
- Left narrative, as provided by Inews.Co.Uk and Guardian. Musk is only a champion of freedom of speech when it suits him, on the one hand spewing disinformation on his right-wing propaganda platform while on the other censoring pro-democracy dissidents on behalf of authoritarian states. While poking the bear may be dangerous, it's clear that Musk's incitement of unrest in the UK this summer went too far. The UK must stand up to Musk and remind the tech mogul that, despite what he may think, his words do have consequences.
- Right narrative, as provided by The Hill and Newsweek. The UK's crusade against Musk's free speech advocacy is unlikely to end well. The UK government's increasingly hostile approach to personal autonomy is self-evident, and their failed attempts to shut down the ultra-popular tech pioneer is a bad look. Committees can threaten to summon him and Labour activists can propose legal action all they like, but Musk has done no wrong for having a difference of opinion with Starmer's woke premiership.
