Sir Keir Starmer condemned Elon Musk’s comments suggesting “civil war is inevitable” following unrest in the UK. Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), posted these remarks in response to a video showing fireworks aimed at police.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson stated there was “no justification” for Musk’s comments and urged social media companies to do more.
Justice Minister Heidi Alexander also criticized Musk, calling his comments “totally unjustifiable” and “pretty deplorable.”
The unrest, lasting almost a week, began after the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport and has been fueled by online misinformation, far-right influences, and anti-immigration sentiment. Musk continued to comment on the UK unrest, questioning the Prime Minister’s focus on attacks on Muslim communities and suggesting the police response seemed “one-sided.”
Alexander emphasized Musk’s responsibility given his large platform, asserting his comments undermine police efforts. She highlighted the “moral responsibility” of social media companies to promote calm and combat misinformation.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson echoed this, stressing the need for social media firms to prevent the spread of criminal activity and misinformation.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed meetings with major social media companies, urging them to curb hateful misinformation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the government’s stance against “armchair thuggery” and insisted social media companies must take responsibility for posts encouraging criminal behavior. Despite the chaos, Snapchat revealed it has not been contacted by the UK government.
UK laws on incitement, outlined in the Public Order Act 1986, address provoking violence and rioting. The Online Safety Act, which became law in 2023, will require social media firms to act against illegal content, including racially or religiously aggravated offenses and incitement to violence. This act criminalizes threatening communications and sharing false information intended to cause harm.
Starmer emphasized that “criminal law applies online as well as offline.” Musk’s comments have drawn criticism online, with satirist Armando Iannucci accusing Musk of amplifying noise over facts.
Sunder Katwala of the think tank British Future argued Musk’s post normalizes extreme views and condones violence, calling for strong responses from the government, Ofcom, and parliament.
An Ofcom spokesperson stated the agency is “moving quickly” to implement the Online Safety Act to ensure enforcement “as soon as possible,” expecting duties related to illegal harms to come into force by the end of the year, with additional duties for the largest services in 2026.
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