The UK government is set to summon Elon Musk to testify about his social media platform, X.
Senior executives from Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are also expected to face questioning.
The hearings are scheduled to begin early next year.
The UK government is set to summon Elon Musk to testify about his social media platform, X, as part of a parliamentary inquiry into its alleged role in spreading disinformation. The inquiry, led by the Commons science and technology select committee, will examine the impact of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) on recent riots and the spread of harmful content online.
Senior executives from Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are also expected to face questioning, reports The Guardian. The hearings are scheduled to begin early next year. Lawmakers aim to address concerns that the UK’s online safety laws are struggling to keep up with rapidly advancing technology and the role platforms like X play in misinformation.
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One key focus will be the consequences of generative AI, which was used to create and share false images on X and Facebook. These images encouraged Islamophobic protests following the tragic killing of three schoolgirls in Southport in August. MPs will also investigate how social media business models may contribute to spreading harmful or misleading content.
“[Musk] has very strong views on multiple aspects of this,” said Chi Onwurah, the Labour chair of the select committee. “I would certainly like the opportunity to cross-examine him to see … how he reconciles his promotion of freedom of expression with his promotion of pure disinformation.”
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Elon Musk, who owns X, has previously clashed with the UK government. After being excluded from an international investment summit, he criticised the government’s priorities, including its approach to social media regulation. Musk has also made controversial remarks about the UK, calling it “full Stalin” in response to tax policy changes.
The inquiry comes as platforms like X face backlash over misinformation and reinstating banned users. Many users are migrating to Bluesky, a new social media platform, citing concerns over X’s updated terms and its use of user data to train AI models.
The UK’s communications regulator, Ofcom, recently reported that some platforms were used to spread hate and incite violence after the Southport riots. Next month, Ofcom will release rules under the Online Safety Act, requiring platforms to remove illegal content and address safety risks more effectively.
Onwurah emphasised the need to understand the connection between social media algorithms, AI, and harmful content, stating the inquiry’s aim is to “get to the bottom of these links.”
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Ayushi Jain
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