Elon Musk’s tweets ‘are being probed by UK counter-extremism unit’ after grooming gangs scandal_Nhy
Elon Musk‘s inflammatory messages on X are reportedly being examined by Government counter-extremism officers.
The Home Office unit has ramped up the monitoring of the world richest man’s posts in order to analyse the risk they pose to Britain, reported The Mirror.
A government source told the newspaper: ‘We keep a close eye on how disinformation and hate can proliferate, including online.’
The reported probe comes after the Tesla owner launched a barrage of attacks on the Government on his X social media site.
He has targeted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other senior ministers over Labour’s rejection of a new national inquiry into grooming gangs.
The Financial Times reported this morning that Mr Musk had held private talks with his allies about how to oust Sir Keir as PM by the next election.
The South African-born businessman, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, has also endorsed far-Right thug Tommy Robinson.
Sir Keir has accused Mr Musk of ‘spreading lies and misinformation’ with his posts to his 210 million followers.
Elon Musk ‘s inflammatory messages about Britain on X are reportedly being examined by counter-extremism officers
He has targeted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other senior ministers over Labour’s rejection of a new national inquiry into grooming gangs
Both Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK’s Nigel Farage have demanded a new national inquiry into grooming gangs amid Mr Musk’s attacks on Labour.
The issue returned to the spotlight after it was revealed the Government rejected Oldham Council’s request for a Whitehall-led inquiry in favour of a locally-led investigation.
Sir Keir has argued a new public inquiry would ‘delay’ action on tackling child sexual exploitation.
The PM has also pointed out that recommendations from a seven-year investigation chaired by Professor Alexis Jay, which reported in 2022, have not yet been implemented.
Mr Musk branded safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who denied the council’s request, a ‘rape genocide apologist’.
Ms Phillips hit back at the tech mogul this week in a series of TV interviews in which she branded his post as ‘ridiculous’.
She claimed he ‘knows absolutely nothing’ about the subject and also said that ‘disinformation’ spread by Mr Musk was ‘endangering’ her.
But she vowed to ‘suck it up’ and added it was ‘nothing’ compared to the experiences of abuse victims.
Mr Musk branded safeguarding minister Jess Phillips, who denied the council’s request, a ‘rape genocide apologist’
But Ms Ms Phillips hit back at the tech mogul this week in a series of TV interviews in which she branded his post as ‘ridiculous’ and said the ‘disinformation’ spread by Mr Musk was ‘endangering’ her
Jonathan Hall, the independent review of state threats legislation, said Mr Musk’s recent actions presented a ‘canary in the coalmine moment’ for the UK.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Hall said society must adjust to the ‘new reality’ of how social media skews public discourse.
But he stressed, despite falsehoods shared by Mr Musk, the billionaire did not meet the definition of foreign interference because he was not acting on behalf of the US.
‘If you had malign intervention by a state, there’s no reason to think at the moment we would be any less affected, unless the system matures,’ Mr Hall told the newspaper.
‘This one intervention by a powerful foreign individual has entirely dictated the political weather in the UK.
‘It is having real impact on ministers, on the Opposition and on political campaigning.
‘There were a lot of concerns about the potential for foreign interference in the 2024 election. It didn’t happen, but this shows us the power of what could happen.’
MailOnline has contacted the Home Office for comment.
