No 10 criticises Elon Musk for ‘civil war is inevitable’ post on England riots

Downing Street condemned remarks made by Elon Musk on social media, where he stated that "civil war is bound to happen" in response to a video showing violent riots in Liverpool.

In a statement, a representative for Keir Starmer stated that the violent actions were carried out by a small group of individuals who do not represent the views of the majority of people in Britain. The spokesperson also mentioned that the prime minister does not agree with the views of the billionaire, who has faced backlash for allowing far-right individuals to use his social media platform.

The spokesperson stated that comments of that nature are not acceptable. They condemned the organized and violent behavior in the country, whether it be on the streets or online.

We are discussing a small group of criminals who do not represent Britain. In reaction, we have witnessed the unity and strength of our communities as they clean up after the chaos caused by those who do not represent our nation. We have also seen the support for those who do represent our country. It is clear that the prime minister does not agree with the opinions of these criminals.

Starmer issued a warning following a high-level meeting with key government officials, police leaders, and representatives from the Ministry of Justice. He emphasized that law enforcement will be actively investigating individuals who are responsible for encouraging harmful behavior online.

"If you are encouraging violence, it doesn't matter if it's on the internet or in person," he stated. "So, I anticipate that those involved will be arrested, charged, and prosecuted, similar to those participating in physical protests."

Similarly, individuals who have been caught committing a crime on the internet can anticipate receiving a similar reaction.

Number 10 stated that efforts were being made to make social media companies aware that they are responsible for deleting illegal content. The government is collaborating with these platforms to ensure they are promptly removing content and have suitable procedures in place. However, the spokesperson emphasized that there is still room for improvement and more action that can be taken by these companies.

It is important for them to make sure their users and online platforms are safe and that no illegal activities are taking place. They shouldn't rely on the Online Safety Act for this. They already have obligations according to the law... We will make sure they fulfill these responsibilities.

Peter Kyle, the technology minister, is planning to have a meeting with executives from social media companies in the upcoming days, according to a spokesperson.

Recently, social media companies have taken steps to make sure their automated systems are functioning properly and swiftly removing harmful content from their platforms. However, we believe more needs to be done. The DSIT secretary is in ongoing discussions to address this issue further.

Musk issued a reaction to a video shared on the Libs of TikTok account, which was first uploaded by the far-right figure Tommy Robinson. In the video, there were scenes of unrest aimed at mosques and accommodations for asylum seekers.

The X owner once again criticized Starmer on Monday evening, in response to the prime minister's comments about supporting Muslim communities and mosques.

Musk wrote: "Isn't it important to worry about the safety of all communities?"

Robinson, also known as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was blocked from X in 2018, back when it was called Twitter. However, Musk decided to bring back Robinson's account after taking over the platform last year. Musk has since engaged with Robinson on the site, adding exclamation marks to show support on at least one of his posts discussing violence.

Musk has increased the visibility of several accounts sharing controversial content about violence, by making comments or adding exclamation marks to their posts.

In a press conference following the Cobra meeting, Starmer announced the implementation of a team of specialized public duty officers to help control any disturbances.

The government has stated that there are sufficient prison spots available to handle the influx of individuals entering the court system following numerous arrests. This comes after concerns were raised two weeks ago about prisons reaching their maximum capacity. To address this issue, an additional 70 prosecutors were working during the weekend to process criminal charges, and over 60 remand courts were held at 50 different locations on Saturday.

Starmer expressed his disapproval of the previous government for causing overcrowding in prisons and stated that he was shocked that it was being considered. However, he also mentioned that they would find a solution to this issue and make sure there are enough spaces in prisons to quickly bring criminals to justice.