Elon Musk to be summoned to UK Parliament over X's role in riots

Recent provocative statements have added to concerns about Musk’s role in X

Controversial CEO of X set to face questioning on his and X’s role in UK riots earlier this year.

Elon Musk is set to face questioning from UK lawmakers about the role of X in spreading disinformation during the riots that erupted in parts of England and Northern Ireland this summer.

The Commons Science and Technology Select Committee will lead the inquiry, focusing on the spreading of false information, including AI-generated content that reportedly fuelled Islamophobic protests in the wake of the murder of three schoolgirls in Southport in August.

Labour MP Chi Onwurah, chair of the committee, told The Guardian that Musk would be invited to testify in hearings scheduled to begin early next year.

Onwurah criticised Musk's approach to content moderation, emphasising that Musk’s support for “absolute” freedom of expression sits awkwardly alongside the platform's perceived tolerance for disinformation.

"[Musk] has very strong views on multiple aspects of this," Onwurah said. "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."

Executives from Meta and TikTok, are also expected to be called before the committee as part of the inquiry.

Musk's recent controversial actions and provocative statements have added to the scrutiny surrounding his leadership.

His public clashes with global leaders, including his harsh critique of the UK government during the summer riots, have drawn widespread attention.

During the unrest, which saw over 1,000 arrests, Musk accused UK authorities of enforcing a "two-tier policing" system and claimed that freedom of speech was being suppressed.

His assertion that "civil war is inevitable" in Britain sparked fury, with ministers denouncing the remarks as "deeply irresponsible." Recently, Musk has even weighed in on Rachel Reeves’ proposed reduction of inheritance tax relief on agricultural land worth over a million pounds accusing the government of going “full Stalin.”

Musk was excluded from an international summit on AI safety organised by the UK government in September. He remarked at the time, "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."

Last week, Italian President Sergio Mattarella criticised Musk after he posted on X about Italian court decisions that had blocked the right-wing government's plans to process certain asylum-seekers in Albania.

The upcoming hearings at the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee take place amid the UK government's wider efforts to strengthen regulations on social media.

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has commissioned research into the impact of social media on young users, exploring a potential ban for those under 16, mirroring recent measures in Australia.

Kyle has also stressed the importance of algorithms designed to prioritise safety over exploitation.

In March, MPs will debate the proposed Safer Phones Bill, introduced by Labour MP Josh MacAlister, which includes provisions to restrict social media access for under-16s.

Concurrently, the Online Safety Act—set to take effect in the spring—will place new responsibilities on tech companies to remove illegal content and better safeguard children online.