The British parliament could summon American entrepreneur Elon Musk to testify on the activities of the social network X, in particular on the issue of moderation and the fight against hate content, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
“Elon Musk could be summoned to the UK Parliament over his role in X” – the article says.
Member of the ruling Labour Party Mr. Butler Butler is running for the post of head of the parliamentary committee on science and technology, the Financial Times writes. Such committees examine the activities of ministers, civil servants and prominent figures in a particular field on a particular topic.
“It is vital that the committee formally examine the use of algorithms in the dissemination of hate content and the moderation of such content on X and other social networks.” – said Butler.
As the paper recalls, MPs can call someone to answer questions from the committee, but they cannot force them to come. If the official agenda is ignored, MPs may consider this a lack of respect for parliament, but this sanction is only symbolic, the article says.
In August, British officials complained that the social network X did not cooperate with authorities to remove posts that posed a threat to national security during the wave of unrest, the Financial Times reported. Musk himself, amid mass protests in Britain, predicted a civil war in the country; this statement sparked discontent in London;
