James Saunders
Guest Reporter
Elon Musk has hit back at MPs' threats to summon him to Britain to probe him in his social media platform X's role in so-called "disinformation" during the summer riots.
A fresh Commons inquiry into the rise of "harmful" AI content online is seeking to pin down tech heavyweights as it investigates the "spread of content that can mislead and harm".
As part of that, Labour's select committee chairwoman Chi Onwurah MP has called on the Tesla and SpaceX owner to explain his alleged "promotion of pure disinformation".
But Musk has hit back in kind, warning MPs that "they will be summoned to the United States of America to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens."
The world's richest man was replying to a post by Malaysian political commentator Ian Miles Cheong which called his invitation to the select committee a "trap".
"This is a trap," Cheong warned, adding that MPs would "detain him at the border, demand to see the contents of his phone, and charge him under counter-terrorism laws when he refuses."
Onwurah, summoning Musk, said he "has very strong views on multiple aspects" of "misleading and harmful" content.
She added: "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."
READ MORE AS LABOUR TRIES TO TAKE ON MUSK:
The Newcastle Central and West MP also took a jab at Musk's snub by Labour at the UK's investment summit in mid-October.
She told The Guardian: "I'd like to make up for that by inviting him to attend [the select committee hearing]."
At the time, Musk had said: "I don't think anyone should go to the UK when they're releasing convicted paedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts!"
But his fresh warning to MPs comes just days after he said Britain was "going full Stalin" ahead of the farmers' protests in Westminster.
In response to Musk's "full Stalin" remarks, Downing Street declined to engage directly with the Trump ally's remarks, with a spokesman saying: "We're not going to get into a back and forth on individual comments."
Labour's top brass appear to be keen to steer clear of any flare-ups with Musk - but one of the party's biggest names has pointed to Nigel Farage as a potential "bridgehead" between the UK and US administrations.
Peter Mandelson told a Times Radio podcast that the Reform UK leader could be "a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others", adding that the UK should "swallow your pride" and engage with the X owner.
Just days ago, Farage himself hinted that he could take up the role of trans-Atlantic "interlocutor" if Trump turns down the widely-rumoured appointment of Lord Mandelson as British ambassador.
Find Out More...
A fresh Commons inquiry into the rise of "harmful" AI content online is seeking to pin down tech heavyweights as it investigates the "spread of content that can mislead and harm".
As part of that, Labour's select committee chairwoman Chi Onwurah MP has called on the Tesla and SpaceX owner to explain his alleged "promotion of pure disinformation".
But Musk has hit back in kind, warning MPs that "they will be summoned to the United States of America to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens."
The world's richest man was replying to a post by Malaysian political commentator Ian Miles Cheong which called his invitation to the select committee a "trap".
"This is a trap," Cheong warned, adding that MPs would "detain him at the border, demand to see the contents of his phone, and charge him under counter-terrorism laws when he refuses."
Onwurah, summoning Musk, said he "has very strong views on multiple aspects" of "misleading and harmful" content.
She added: "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."
READ MORE AS LABOUR TRIES TO TAKE ON MUSK:
- 'You can't ignore him!' Labour grandee urges Starmer to form unlikely alliance with Farage to woo Trump and Musk
- Elon Musk brands UK a 'police state' after care worker jailed for livestreaming riots
- 'This needs to stop!' Musk leads charge against Pearson's police probe
The Newcastle Central and West MP also took a jab at Musk's snub by Labour at the UK's investment summit in mid-October.
She told The Guardian: "I'd like to make up for that by inviting him to attend [the select committee hearing]."
At the time, Musk had said: "I don't think anyone should go to the UK when they're releasing convicted paedophiles in order to imprison people for social media posts!"
But his fresh warning to MPs comes just days after he said Britain was "going full Stalin" ahead of the farmers' protests in Westminster.
In response to Musk's "full Stalin" remarks, Downing Street declined to engage directly with the Trump ally's remarks, with a spokesman saying: "We're not going to get into a back and forth on individual comments."
Labour's top brass appear to be keen to steer clear of any flare-ups with Musk - but one of the party's biggest names has pointed to Nigel Farage as a potential "bridgehead" between the UK and US administrations.
Peter Mandelson told a Times Radio podcast that the Reform UK leader could be "a bridgehead, both to President Trump and to Elon Musk and others", adding that the UK should "swallow your pride" and engage with the X owner.
Just days ago, Farage himself hinted that he could take up the role of trans-Atlantic "interlocutor" if Trump turns down the widely-rumoured appointment of Lord Mandelson as British ambassador.
Find Out More...