Sir Ed Davey has branded Elon Musk a prison and referred to as for him to be prosecuted for “allowing online harm to children” on his social media platform X.
Sir Ed, talking from the Lib Dem convention in Bournemouth, mentioned Mr Musk could possibly be prosecuted beneath the On-line Security Act, beneath which social media firms have a authorized responsibility to guard youngsters from dangerous content material and their administrators are answerable for prison prosecution for breaching it.
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Elon Musk. Pic: Reuters
Requested if he’s calling Mr Musk a prison, Sir Ed didn’t miss a beat as he mentioned: “Yes.
“Not simply due to the terrible issues he is achieved in inciting violence, and, for instance, he says a civil battle in our nation is inevitable, that our democratically elected authorities needs to be overthrown.
“They were bad enough. But on his platform, they’re examples of adverse, pushing people on self-harm, on grooming, even selling videos showing paedophile acts, of child sex abuse acts and I think he should be held to account for them, him personally and his business.
“Ofcom now has the powers beneath the On-line Security Act.”
He mentioned if Mr Musk involves the UK, he needs to be arrested.
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Sir Ed Davey enters convention with marching band
Mr Musk was accused of inciting violence throughout a march organised by Tommy Robinson in London final week.
He informed the protest through video hyperlink: “This is a message to the reasonable centre, the people who ordinarily wouldn’t get involved in politics, who just want to live their lives. They don’t want that, they’re quiet, they just go about their business.
“My message is to them: if this continues, that violence goes to come back to you, you’ll have no alternative. You are in a elementary scenario right here.
“Whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die, that’s the truth, I think.”
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Sir Ed Davey mentioned Elon Musk needs to be arrested
Sir Ed mentioned it’s “shocking” that Mr Musk eliminated a few of X’s youngster security groups when he took over Twitter in 2022 and accused him of simply being “interested in his bank account”.
“I’m interested in the safety of our children, and it is quite wrong that his business puts on these adverts,” mentioned the Lib Dem chief.
“It’s disgusting and I hope everybody will agree with me and the Liberal Democrats that we should take really strong action against him.”
After Mr Musk acquired Twitter, a lot of its youngster security workers had been laid off or resigned, and the platform’s belief and security council was disbanded.
Baby safety specialists have accused Mr Musk of main a “race to the bottom on safety”.
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Elon Musk with Donald Trump within the Oval Workplace. Pic: AP
Ofcom, the UK’s unbiased media regulator, which has the ability to prosecute administrators of social media platforms beneath the On-line Security Act, has launched an investigation into X’s dealing with of kid sexual abuse content material.
This isn’t the primary time Sir Ed has hit out on the world’s richest man, as he referred to as for the US ambassador to be summoned in February “to ask why an incoming US official is suggesting the UK government should be overthrown”.
Mr Musk reacted by calling Sir Ed a “snivelling cretin”.
Sir Ed is anticipated to reiterate his name for Mr Musk’s arrest at his convention speech on Tuesday.
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Pic: Reuters
He’ll accuse Mr Musk of being motivated by “his own ego, power and wealth, rather than the rights and freedoms of the British people”.
The Lib Dems will even desk a parliamentary movement summoning Mr Musk to the Home of Commons “to be reprimanded for his actions”.
X maintains it has “zero tolerance for child sexual abuse material” and claims tackling those that exploit youngsters is a “top priority”.
