The committee has announced the launch of an inquiry into “social media, misinformation, and harmful algorithms” following riots in the UK this past August. The unrest was partly fueled by inaccurate posts shared on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the tragic killing of three schoolgirls in the town of Southport.
However, Elon Musk, the owner of X, responded forcefully to the inquiry on his platform, stating, “They will be summoned to the United States of America to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens.”
Chi Onwurah, a member of the UK Parliament, expressed her desire for Musk to engage with the committee. She remarked that Musk is “the most senior representative of X” and noted his strong opinions on topics such as misinformation, communication, free speech, and society. Onwurah added, “I would very much hope he would want to share the thinking behind those views with the committee, especially given his role as advisor to President-elect Trump and the disappointment he expressed about not being invited to the UK investment summit,” referring to an event earlier this year aimed at attracting investments into British businesses.
Musk’s apparent dismissal of the inquiry has left committee members unimpressed. Labour MP Emily Darlington, reacting on X, criticized Musk’s remarks as a “strange response” and described his comments as a “threat.”
She further commented, “What a shame. I would like to understand his point of view when addressing this important issue.”
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