Humza Yousaf accuses Elon Musk of aligning with far-right and instigating violence
The former first minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, has called Elon Musk "one of the most dangerous men on the planet", accusing the tech billionaire of using his platform, X, to amplify far-right ideologies and "instigate" violence.
In a wide-ranging interview with Middle East Eye, Yousaf, who has been engaged in a war of words with Musk, said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer needs to regulate social media platforms following the recent riots across Britain.
"Musk is not accountable to anybody other than his shareholders. He's not accountable through the democratic process or through elections. Yet, he uses his billions, he uses his wealth, to try to align with the far-right to help, to instigate the terrible violence and disorder that we saw in the streets of the United Kingdom," Yousaf told MEE.
Earlier this month, violence spread across the UK after disinformation spread online about the race and religion of the perpetrator of a mass stabbing in Southport, where three children were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The riots, the largest in more than a decade, saw masked men take to the streets in cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool, resulting in buildings and vehicles being set on fire and shops looted.
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"Musk is not an idiot. He knows what he's doing... He knows the consequences of what he's doing and he will continue to do it because, as I say, he is simply not accountable to anyone. And in my mind, that's what makes Elon Musk one of the most dangerous men on the planet," said Yusuf, who was the first Scottish Asian and Muslim to hold the office of first minister.
"It's why Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, has to ensure that social media platforms, not just X but X included, have to be far better regulated," he said.
"Otherwise, every time there is an incident, misinformation and disinformation, helped propagated by the owner of X, will spread like wildfire," he added.
'Super, super racist'
The violence, which led to numerous arrests and put Britain's Muslim community on edge, presents a significant challenge for Starmer's premiership.
It has also spotlighted hard-right agitators linked to football hooliganism at a time when anti-immigration elements are gaining some electoral success in British politics.
Much of the condemnation has been directed at figures such as Musk, who has styled himself as a vanguard of free speech.
In recent weeks, Musk has lashed out at his online rivals, including Yousaf, whom he accused of being racist and a "scumbag". During the riots, the South African-born tycoon shared fake news about the UK and even joked about invading Britain.
Last Thursday, Musk escalated the feud, calling Yousaf, the son of Pakistani immigrants, "super, super racist" and claimed he "loathes white people".
"I dare that scumbag to sue me," Musk said on Sunday in response to reports that Yousuf was considering legal action against him.
In the interview with MEE, Yousaf also said that the week of violent riots left him uncertain about whether his family has a future in the UK.
"Every single Muslim I've spoken to is questioning whether they can be safe in a country that they call home."
"I don't have any other home than Scotland. I'm born here, raised here, lived here my whole life, was the first minister of the Scottish government for a period, too. I'm as Scottish as they possibly come, but I have to think about my family's future first and foremost," Yousaf continued.
"I'm a father and a husband, and can I say truthfully that my daughters will be safe in the UK? Will they be targeted for their appearance? Will they be targeted if they choose to go to a mosque?"
"I can't guarantee their safety. So every single Muslim, myself included, is asking themselves: Can we be safe in the future in the United Kingdom?"
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