MPs demand X proprietor Elon Musk attends Parliament for a grilling over the unfold of ‘viral misinformation’ on his social media website
A group of MPs today urged X owner Elon Musk to attend Parliament to explain how ‘viral misinformation’ can spread across social media.
The House of Commons’ Science, Innovation and Technology Committee invited the world’s richest man to appear before them to give evidence to their ongoing probe.
In the wake of last summer’s riots, sparked by the Southport stabbing attacks, the committee launched an inquiry into ‘false and harmful content’ online.
Labour MP Chi Onwurah, the committee’s chair, has now asked Mr Musk to ‘give us his thoughts directly’ on how social media algorithms can amplify misinformation.
But she insisted she was not ‘picking a fight’ with Mr Musk, despite the controversial businessman’s ongoing feud with senior Labour ministers – including Sir Keir Starmer.
The tech mogul has recently launched a barrage of attacks on the Prime Minister over his record on tackling grooming gangs and fuelled calls for a new public inquiry into the issue.
Ms Onwurah urged Mr Musk to ‘engage with the democratic process’ rather than ‘speak to UK politicians through his X account’.
Amid the furious ongoing political row over grooming gangs, she said ‘headlines over the last couple of days illustrate how potent misinformation on social media can be’.
A group of MPs have urged X owner Elon Musk to attend Parliament to explain how ‘viral misinformation’ can spread across social media
Labour MP Chi Onwurah, the chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, has asked Mr Musk to ‘give us his thoughts directly’ on social media algorithms
In the wake of last summer’s riots, sparked by the Southport stabbing attacks, the committee launched an inquiry into ‘false and harmful content’ online
‘Social media is a place where one post, even if false, can be amplified to reach millions of people,’ Ms Onwurah added.
‘Last summer, false and harmful content spread across social media caused violence on our streets.
‘We shouldn’t accept viral misinformation – or the real-world harm it causes – as an inevitable part of social media, and we must make sure that false online content doesn’t fuel violent attacks in the UK again.
‘Following the riots, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has launched an inquiry to examine how algorithms used by social media platforms can spread false and harmful content.
‘A crucial part of this is hearing from leading social media platforms, including X, and we have invited Mr Musk to appear before the committee.
‘This isn’t about picking a fight with Mr Musk. We want to understand the technology he has shaped and his views on X’s approach to misinformation and free speech.
‘Rather than speak to UK politicians through his X account, I hope that he will take up our invitation and take the opportunity to engage with the democratic process and give us his thoughts directly.
‘If Mr Musk declines to come, the Committee hopes that a senior representative of X can attend in his stead to give us clarity on the company’s use of algorithms.’
The issue of grooming gangs has returned to the spotlight after Labour came under pressure to establish a public inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Oldham.
The Home Office has rejected Oldham Council’s request in favour of a locally-led investigation, with the Government’s decision criticised by the Tories and Reform UK.
Mr Musk has hit out a senior Labour figures in a series of social media posts and branded safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who denied the council’s request, a ‘rape genocide apologist’.
He has also taken aim at Sir Keir’s record as head of the Crown Prosecution Service, as he continued his bitter feud with the PM.
Mr Musk and Sir Keir previously clashed over the widespread rioting in the UK last summer.
The billionaire businessman sparked a furious backlash by claiming that ‘civil war is inevitable’ amid the violent chaos in British cities and towns.
He also branded the PM ‘Two Tier Keir’ as he fuelled claims that UK police treat some groups more harshly than others.
But Mr Musk was left red-faced after being forced to retract false claims about Sir Keir setting up detainment camps in the Falkland Islands for rioters.
