Downing Street condemns Elon Musk for claim 'civil war is inevitable' in UK

Downing Street has condemned Elon Musk for his assertion that "civil war is inevitable" in the UK, labeling his comments as "extraordinarily irresponsible." This statement follows a series of far-right riots and attacks across various cities, which have been fueled by misinformation circulating on Musk's social media platform, Twitter/X. The unrest was exacerbated by false claims regarding a suspect in a recent knife attack, leading to violent clashes between racist mobs and police. Musk's remarks mark the sixth instance since October where he has suggested that civil conflict is brewing in Europe. Critics from across the political spectrum have called for social media companies to take greater responsibility in combating misleading content. The UK government emphasized that the violent disorder is driven by a minority and does not represent the broader population. Experts have pointed out that social media has been weaponized to spread hate speech and misinformation, particularly targeting minority groups. Calls for increased regulation of social media platforms have intensified, with leaders urging these companies to uphold the law and ensure user safety.

- Downing Street criticized Elon Musk for claiming civil war is "inevitable" in the UK.

- His comments followed violent far-right riots fueled by misinformation on Twitter/X.

- Critics argue that social media companies must do more to combat misleading content.

- Experts highlight the role of social media in spreading hate speech and misinformation.

- There are growing calls for stricter regulation of social media platforms.