UK Government Condemns Elon Musk's Civil War Comment Amid Riots

The U.K. government has rebuked Elon Musk after the billionaire made controversial remarks about the recent riots across the country, describing them as potentially leading to "civil war." The disturbances, marked by far-right and anti-immigration sentiment, have occurred in various towns and cities, including Liverpool and Manchester.

Musk's Controversial Statement

On Sunday, Musk responded to a post on X, his social media platform, with the comment, "Civil war is inevitable." This statement sparked widespread condemnation, including from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer's spokesperson firmly rejected Musk's view, stating, "There is no justification for comments like that." The spokesperson further emphasized that the violent actions seen on the streets were the result of "organized illegal thuggery," not representative of the broader British populace.

Official Reactions

Heidi Alexander, the U.K.'s courts minister, emphasized the need for responsible use of social media platforms, particularly in avoiding language that could exacerbate tensions. She called Musk's reference to civil war "totally unjustified."

Technology Minister Peter Kyle discussed the role of social media in spreading misinformation that has fueled the unrest. He highlighted the moral responsibility of these platforms to curb the dissemination of misleading and inflammatory content.

Context and Legal Framework

The riots, initially sparked by anti-immigration protests, have escalated into widespread disorder, with far-right groups clashing with police, vandalizing shops, and attacking mosques. The U.K. recently passed the Online Safety Act, aimed at enhancing the enforcement of regulations against illegal and harmful online content.

However, Ofcom, the regulator responsible for enforcing this law, is not yet fully empowered to act against social media companies for posts inciting violence due to the ongoing rollout of the act's provisions.

Musk, who continues to comment on the situation, recently reshared a video allegedly depicting a man's arrest over offensive comments on Facebook.

The video has not been independently verified by CNBC. Musk's platform, X, has previously reinstated far-right figures like Tommy Robinson and controversial personality Andrew Tate, who were banned for inflammatory content.