Elon Musk could soon be summoned to the UK Parliament to explain how his social media platform, X, handles the spread of misinformation and hateful content.
Labour Member of Parliament Dawn Butler, who is vying to become chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, has expressed her intention to invite Musk to testify about his platform’s practices and its role in fueling social unrest.
Dawn Butler, one of the frontrunners for the committee chair position, has stressed the need for a formal inquiry into how social media platforms like X use algorithms to amplify misinformation and hateful content.
This inquiry is gaining support from her rival, fellow Labour MP Chi Onwurah, who also backs a thorough investigation into the impact of these platforms’ business models on public discourse.
The focus is on how platforms, including X, can be held accountable for content moderation practices. “It is essential that we examine how algorithms push harmful material and the moderation—or lack thereof—of such content,” Butler told the Financial Times.
She emphasized the need for social media companies to be more transparent in their operations.
The move comes in the wake of recent far-right riots in the UK following a tragic knife attack in Southport. The misinformation surrounding the attack spread widely on X and has been linked to escalating tensions and violent protests.
Musk, in response to the backlash, accused UK authorities of being biased in handling the unrest and warned that “civil war is inevitable” if the current approach continues.
Both Butler and Onwurah are committed to making transparency and accountability a priority if elected to lead the committee, especially in how platforms like X may contribute to societal divisions.
This is not the first time Musk’s platform has faced regulatory challenges.
X is currently embroiled in a legal battle in Brazil, where it has been suspended for failing to comply with local laws, including appointing a legal representative in the country.
The suspension comes amid concerns that X was used to spread misinformation linked to former President Jair Bolsonaro. Despite Musk’s claims that this amounts to censorship, Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld the decision, and X now faces significant fines to resume operations.