Amidst the chaos of riots in the United Kingdom, Elon Musk made controversial statements regarding the situation, stating that “Civil conflict is unavoidable.” Musk, the proprietor of X, the social networking platform previously named X, sparked discussions with British officials.

The U.K. government engaged in “beneficial” dialogues with Elon Musk’s social media network X concerning the dissemination of false information and other damaging content, as per technology minister Peter Kyle’s remarks on a positive Friday encounter.

Kyle informed Arabile Gumede from good that the government had meaningful interactions with all major social media networks, including Musk’s X, in the summer regarding the spread of misinformation and their involvement in perpetuating harmful materials.

Despite not having direct communication with Musk himself, Kyle mentioned he frequently communicates with the local top executives of the company in the United Kingdom.

“Up to now, the conversations have been productive,” he stated, acknowledging differing perspectives but emphasizing the importance of open dialogue.

According to Kyle, there are growing expectations from citizens and governments worldwide concerning the responsibilities of social media platforms in safeguarding users and mitigating potential risks linked to their platforms.

“Operating in the British economy and society is a privilege. I anticipate all companies planning to provide goods and services in our nation to respect that privilege,” he added, highlighting the responsibilities associated with operating in the British market.

Kyle’s statements came in the aftermath of online misinformation following a stabbing incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance session in northwest England, which triggered far-right and anti-immigrant outbursts — leading to attacks on shops and mosques in various cities.

During the turbulent period, Musk, the owner of X, commented on the U.K. scenario, referring to Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “two-tier Keir,” alluding to a conspiracy theory that alleged preferential treatment of white far-right protesters by police compared to minority groups.

He further suggested that the turmoil might escalate into a civil war, posting on X: “Civil conflict is inevitable.” These remarks from Musk were met with criticism from the U.K. administration.

Recent reports from the Financial Times indicated that British lawmaker Dawn Butler, a leading contender to chair the parliamentary committee on science, innovation, and technology, intends to summon Musk for questioning before the parliamentary committee if elected.

The publication also noted that Butler’s competitor for the post, fellow Labour representative Chi Onwurah, supports an investigation into the influence of algorithms in promoting misinformation on social media platforms.

Kyle, affiliated with the Labour Party, holds the official title of Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, suggesting that summoning Musk to the U.K. is seen as a last resort to maintain respectful interactions with pioneering figures like the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.

He also shared that he is evaluating whether additional regulatory powers are necessary to oversee social media organizations in curbing the dissemination of harmful content online.

“I am continually reviewing the requirement for enhanced authority to do so,” Kyle stated. “At present, my focus is on evaluation and consultations with these companies,” he added.

Starting early in 2025, the U.K. regulator Ofcom will possess the authority to levy fines on firms up to 10% of their worldwide annual revenues and potentially incarcerate senior executives found non-compliant with the Online Safety Act (OSA), a comprehensive regulation mandating robust oversight of illicit content by digital platforms.

Various U.K. politicians and advocacy groups have urged expediting the implementation of the OSA to address incidents like the summer disturbances effectively.

Sources familiar with the matter disclosed last month to good that the administration is contemplating a review of the legislation, but specifics regarding the timeline for this initiative remain uncertain.

Ofcom emphasized the necessity to conclude consultations on the tech firms’ codes of conduct before proceeding with the implementation phase. A government representative emphasized that the immediate focus is swift and effective implementation of the Online Safety Act.

Despite the ongoing discussions, the message reiterated to social media entities remains clear: immediate action can and should be taken to safeguard users from harmful content.