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The British government is set to summon Elon Musk to testify on its social media platform, X.

Top executives at Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are also expected to be questioned.

Hearings are expected to begin early next year.

The British government is set to summon Elon Musk to give evidence about his social media platform, X, as part of a parliamentary inquiry into its alleged role in spreading disinformation. The inquiry, led by the Commons science and technology select committee, will examine the impact of social media and artificial intelligence (AI) on the recent riots and the spread of harmful content online.

Senior executives at Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok are also expected to be questioned, The Guardian reports. Hearings are expected to begin early next year. Lawmakers aim to address concerns that Britain’s online safety laws are struggling to keep up with rapidly changing technology and the role platforms like X play in spreading misinformation.

Also read: Elon Musk accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of stifling competition in the AI ​​sector

The focus will be on the consequences of generative AI, used to create and share false images on X and Facebook. These images encouraged Islamophobic protests following the tragic murder of three schoolgirls in Southport in August. MEPs will also explore how social media business models can contribute to the spread of harmful or misleading content.

“(Musk) has very strong views on multiple aspects of this issue,” said Chi Onwurah, Labor chair of the select committee. “I would certainly like the opportunity to cross-examine him to see… how he balances his promotion of free speech with his promotion of pure misinformation.” »

Also read: Tesla CEO Elon Musk buys estate worth over Rs 294 crore, hopes to bond with his 11 children

Elon Musk, owner of X, has already clashed with the British government. After being excluded from an international investment summit, he criticized the government’s priorities, including its approach to regulating social media. Musk also made controversial remarks about the UK, calling it a “complete Stalin” in response to tax policy changes.

The investigation comes as platforms like X face backlash over misinformation and the reinstatement of banned users. Many users are migrating to Bluesky, a new social media platform, citing concerns about X’s updated terms and its use of user data to train AI models.

Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, recently reported that some platforms had been used to spread hatred and incite violence following the Southport riots. Next month, Ofcom will publish rules under the Online Safety Act, requiring platforms to remove illegal content and address security risks more effectively.

Onwurah highlighted the need to understand the link between social media algorithms, AI and harmful content, saying the aim of the investigation is “to get to the bottom of these links”.

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Ayushi Jain

Technical news editor by day, BGMI player by night. Combining my passion for technology and gaming to bring you the latest from both worlds. View full profile