Leading Labour MP Brands Twitter Owner Elon Musk a 'Dangerous Narcissist' as She Calls for Clampdown on Online Hate (2024)

A prominent Labour MP running to lead Parliament’s tech committee has launched a scathing critique of Twitter/X owner Elon Musk, following weeks of the US billionaire boosting far-right content on the platform.

Musk has caused outrage in the midst of racist riots over the past fortnight, sharing provocative posts appearing to egg on a race-based ‘civil war’, doctored headlines about rioters supposedly being deported, and amplifying inflammatory claims about supposed ‘anti-white’ policing by dubbing the PM ‘Two Tier Keir’.

London Labour MP Dawn Butler is now urging public bodies and politicians to switch over to other platforms such as Meta-owned Threads, Byline Times can report.Several other Labour MPs have shifted their focus to the X-alternative over the past week, including Sir Chris Bryant, who is a minister.

Now, in a scathing critique of social media mogul Elon Musk, Dawn Butler has described the Tesla owner as “dangerous” and slammed the platform’s algorithms for amplifying racist content.

Butler expressed deep concerns about recent changes to X under Elon Musk’s ownership, with many far-right figures being allowed back on the platform, and hate speech appearing to run rife.

“These riots were fuelled by people who wanted to lynch black and brown people and burn them in their homes. This isn’t free speech, this is hate speech,” Butler told Byline Times.

The MP claims that Musk is “effectively creating a dangerous network that he and others can manipulate.” And she’s dubbed him a “narcissist” amid reports that users who block him on his platform are barred from taking part in the anti-misinformation Community Notes scheme.

She pointed out that X now has exclusive access to what posts users are ‘Liking’, which can be used to feed algorithms and promote controversial content. The speculation is that people may be more willing to engage with and ‘Like’ divisive content now that people’s Likes are not visible to others.

“Only X can now see what users are liking, and they can then use that information to feed their algorithm and, for example, to promote racist content to people some of whom will be vulnerable,” Butler warned.

The MP also criticized the platform’s response to these concerns, stating, “At the moment, it seems that no one at X is willing to engage with this issue. Why is that? If you raise it like I have, your timeline gets flooded with abuse.”

It comes after safeguarding minister Jess Phillips MP dubbed Twitter/X a ‘place of misery’ now, with the prominent women’s safety campaigner telling the Edinburgh Book Festival she has now deleted the app from her phone.

Butler is calling for tougher legislation to regulate social media companies, especially those based outside the UK. Many parts of the Online Safety Act passed under the last Government are not set to come into force until next year.

“We need strong legislation for firms owned outside the UK and if they don’t abide by British rules, there should be stiff penalties,” she asserted.

The MP expressed doubt about the likelihood of Musk appearing before a parliamentary committee but insisted on the importance of accountability. “I doubt very much Elon Musk would attend a parliamentary committee hearing and be held accountable unless of course he wanted the attention. But we will seek to hold him and executives to account by all means possible,” Butler added.

Butler is bidding to become chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee.

She’s running on a platform of stronger oversight of tech companies and their bosses. Butler has shared an endorsem*nt from the previous Conservative chair, Greg Clark, who backed her experience and cross-party collaboration.

“The chair role requires working across party lines and having a strong character to hold the government to account,” Butler said.

“In my opinion, we haven’t been strong enough regarding legislation and holding social media firms accountable.”

The Labour MP has highlighted the “urgent” need to address misinformation and the challenges posed by artificial intelligence tools, as well as opaque social media algorithms that remain sheltered from scrutiny, she said.

Former Conservative chair of the Commons’ tech committee Greg Clark said: “Dawn was an excellent colleague on the Science & Technology Committee throughout the last Parliament as we tackled big issues such as the Covid pandemic, the governance of AI and nuclear power as well as cross-cutting themes such as diversity and inclusion in STEM.

“Dawn brought her experience as a former professional coder to the Committee, as well as her commitment to holding to account those in power and influence. Throughout these years Dawn worked warmly and effectively with MPs of all the parties represented: her friendship and contribution was valued by all members.”

Butler is up against fellow Labour MP Chi Onwurah, the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West since 2010.