Article UK PM slams Elon Musk for saying far-right riots ‘inevitable’ (social media)

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https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-pm-sl...nevitable/

RELEASE: Britain's Keir Starmer took aim at Elon Musk after the tech billionaire claimed the wave of far-right violence hitting the U.K. was “inevitable.”

The British prime minister’s spokesperson said there was “no justification” for Musk’s comments, posted this weekend on the X platform he now owns.

Britain has been gripped by violent disorder in multiple towns and cities in recent days, with mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers among the targets of far-right demonstrations. The unrest began after the killing of three young girls in a knife attack on a children’s dance class in Southport last Monday.

Musk — who has faced criticism over the spread on X of false information about the attacker's identity — claimed Sunday that “civil war is inevitable” in the U.K. The billionaire tweeted the comment in response to a clip by conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair showing some of the disorder that has swept the U.K.

“There is no justification for comments like that,” Starmer’s spokesperson hit back Monday when pressed by reporters on the remarks. “What we’ve seen in this country is organized, illegal thuggery which has no place on our streets or online.”

“We’re talking about a minority of thugs that do not speak for Britain ... The prime minister doesn’t share those [Musk’s] sentiments,” the PM’s spokesperson added.

Musk has made a play of his free-speech credentials as X’s owner and controversially reinstated the X account of British far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The U.K. government is continuing to call on social media firms to do more to tackle “criminal material” on their platforms, although it remains unclear what tools, if any, it has to force compliance.

“There are areas where the social media companies do have clear requirements at the moment to remove criminal material and should be doing so, but sometimes take too long to do so,” Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC. Downing Street confirmed ministers are making representations to social media firms.

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British premier blasts Elon Musk's 'civil war' comments, vows legal response
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/british-...se/3296159

INTRO: In a stern response to recent unrest in the UK, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to address online incitement with full legal force on Monday.

This comes after Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of social media platform X, suggested that "civil war is inevitable" in a post with a video of rioters clashing with police.

According local media citing Keir Starmer's spokesperson, the Labour leader reinforced this message during an emergency Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBRA) meeting held on Monday.

He emphasized the seriousness of Musk's comments, saying they had "no justification."

"Anyone who is whipping up violence online will face the full force of the law. Online platforms have a responsibility," added Starmer.

He underscored that "the law applies online" and stressed that incitement to violence would be treated with the same severity as direct participation in violent acts.

"Equally, anyone who has been found to have committed a criminal offence online can expect the same response," he added.

Starmer outlined several key measures that were agreed upon. Among them is the establishment of a "standing army" of specialist officers, prepared to address incidents as they arise.

The unrest began last Tuesday following the arrest of Axel Rudakubana, 17, who is charged with the murder of three young girls and the attempted murder of 10 others.

The victims, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six, were killed in a knife attack in Southport, north of Liverpool.

Inaccurate online claims suggested that Rudakubana was a Muslim refugee who had recently arrived in the UK, fueling further tensions.

Despite Rudakubana’s actual background as a Cardiff-born individual with Rwandan heritage, these false narratives have intensified the situation.

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Elon Musk says U.K. government, not social media, to blame for violence
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/202...civil-war/

EXCERPT: On Tuesday, he called Starmer “two-tier Keir” — echoing an allegation that British police overreach when dealing with far-right, predominantly White demonstrators while going soft on immigrant and Muslim lawbreakers.

Musk shared a video of a person purportedly being arrested for offensive comments online and asked: “Is this Britain or the Soviet Union?”

Musk also engaged with a Monday post from Starmer that stated “we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities.” Musk responded: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

Yvette Cooper, Britain’s home secretary, said that social media platforms have acted as a “rocket booster” under some of the disinformation. She told the BBC that the government would be taking up the issue with tech giants “who need to take some responsibility for this” and that the police would also be pursuing “online criminality.” (MORE - missing details)

[confused2]

Musk also engaged with a Monday post from Starmer that stated “we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities.” Musk responded: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

Maybe the US gets news we don't get here .. as far as I know attacks on communities which involve looting, burning and breaking are very rare in this country so the attacks Musk is comparing with/to are .. what? Or is he just making up nonsense because he can?

An MP did complain about the police failing to arrest a small group of Muslims (Palestinians ?) chanting "Allula Akbar" (God is great) which didn't seem quite up there with setting a police car on fire .. but that's just my opinion .. facts .. who needs them anyway.

Is civil war inevitable? .. the best way to make it inevitable is probably to say it's inevitable .. and if that's what you want (for the UK) and you are an American .. that's as good a reason as any to say it.

[Secular Sanity]

Musk also engaged with a Monday post from Starmer that stated “we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities.” Musk responded: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

Maybe the US gets news we don't get here .. as far as I know attacks on communities which involve looting, burning and breaking are very rare in this country so the attacks Musk is comparing with/to are .. what? Or is he just making up nonsense because he can?

There have been reports of rioters attacking and looting in other areas as well. It seems that the violence has spread beyond just targeting specific Muslim communities and is now affecting a wider range of people and businesses.

Is that true, C2?

Is any of this happening near you?

[stryder]

Musk also engaged with a Monday post from Starmer that stated “we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities.” Musk responded: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

Maybe the US gets news we don't get here .. as far as I know attacks on communities which involve looting, burning and breaking are very rare in this country so the attacks Musk is comparing with/to are .. what? Or is he just making up nonsense because he can?

There have been reports of rioters attacking and looting in other areas as well. It seems that the violence has spread beyond just targeting specific Muslim communities and is now affecting a wider range of people and businesses.

Is that true, C2?

Is any of this happening near you?

In my part of the woods there was a brief concern about others following in the trend. However they realised they were being sheep and were returned to their pen. (although different to a penitentiary violent offenders face.)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87g03zvlpjo

[confused2]

Musk also engaged with a Monday post from Starmer that stated “we will not tolerate attacks on mosques or on Muslim communities.” Musk responded: “Shouldn’t you be concerned about attacks on *all* communities?”

Maybe the US gets news we don't get here .. as far as I know attacks on communities which involve looting, burning and breaking are very rare in this country so the attacks Musk is comparing with/to are .. what? Or is he just making up nonsense because he can?

There have been reports of rioters attacking and looting in other areas as well. It seems that the violence has spread beyond just targeting specific Muslim communities and is now affecting a wider range of people and businesses.

Is that true, C2?

Is any of this happening near you?

In my part of the woods there was a brief concern about others following in the trend.  However they realised they were being sheep and were returned to their pen. (although different to a  penitentiary violent offenders face.)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87g03zvlpjo

No rioting in my town. In fairness it is something of a backwater - hardly changed since at least the 60s. I did notice an absence of black faces on the bus early in the week - perhaps coincidence - but they were back on Wednesday.

I think Stryder is exactly right .. social media (thanks Elon!) kind of opened a gate and the sheep flowed through. When free speech meets 6,000 police in riot gear .. it looks like the police .. well I'm sure there's a point to be made somewhere.

[Magical Realist]

https://metro.co.uk/2024/08/08/anti-raci...OGpwLDunnQ

"Anti-racism protesters have rallied across the country following a week of far-right riots, putting on an inspiring display of unity.

Police were braced for widespread violence last night. Shops were boarded up and immigration centres closed after rumours spread on social media the disorder first seen in Southport would spread even further across the country.

But only a handful of arrests were reported as peaceful protesters turned up in their thousands to defend their communities and put an end to rampant violence.

In Brighton a samba band played for the crowd and a team of drag queens were positioned outside the station, ready to welcome any rioters.

Later in the evening, a small group found themselves surrounded by thousands of counter protesters and forced to shelter against a building.

Dozens of police officers had to push through anti-racist demonstrators to allow the small number of far-right protesters to escape the crowd.

Counter-protestors took to the streets in Brighton in a show of support for the refugee and migrant community.

Many people held signs reading ‘refugees welcome’, ‘no space for racism, end fascism’ and ‘strength in diversity’.

‘In just a few hours, the crowd grew from a few dozen people to several thousand, stretching across the length of Hoe Street. People had abandoned whatever plans they had to make sure they were there.

‘By the end, it was a celebration of the diversity and strength in the community, showing that racism has no place in Walthamstow.’