LIBDEM leader Ed Davey has called for “criminal” Elon Musk to be arrested after inciting violence at a far-right rally in London last week.
Davey said the Tesla billionaire had broken the law by telling a protest led by Tommy Robinson that “violence is coming” and “you either fight back or you die”.
Musk called for “revolutionary government change” and that a “dissolution of Parliament is needed”, while claiming that “massive uncontrolled migration” was contributing to the “destruction of Britain”.
Davey said that the “standard had been met” to arrest Musk if he visits the UK. The LibDem leader called on the regulator Ofcom to use its new powers under the Online Safety Act to prosecute Musk.
“You’re in a fundamental situation where whether you choose violence or not, violence is coming to you. You either fight back or you die,” Musk told the rally last weekend.
Davey was asked if he thought Musk was a criminal, telling Sky News: “Yes. Not just because of the awful things he’s done, inciting violence.
“For example, he says a civil war in our country is inevitable, that our democratically elected government should be overthrown. They were bad enough.
“But on his platform, there are examples of adverts pushing people on self-harm, on grooming, even selling videos showing paedophile acts, child sex abuse acts.
“I think he should be held to account for them. Him personally and his business.
“Ofcom now have the powers under the Online Safety Act … they need the encouragement and support to take on powerful people.
“We shouldn’t just let powerful people get away with it.”
New rules that came into force in July give Ofcom the power to fine companies up to 10% of their global turnover, block services in the UK or take criminal action against senior managers who flout the rules.
Those found guilty of failing to prevent children from encountering harmful content can face up to two years in prison, even where they are not directly responsible for moderation decisions.
The chief executive of Ofcom, Melanie Dawes, has previously said she was prepared to fine X, owned by Musk, if it did not cooperate.
“Any service that doesn’t follow our rules and doesn’t have a plan to follow the rules and is not taking them seriously, they can expect to hear from us pretty early on,” Dawes said previously.
Davey is reportedly set to use his speech at the LibDem conference on Tuesday to accuse Musk of meddling with British democracy.
“It’s not because he cares about the British people, and our rights and our freedoms. It’s all about his ego, power and wealth,” Davey is expected to say.
The party are also aiming to table a motion in the Commons to summon Musk to appear before MPs.
Musk called Davey a “craven coward” after his criticism last week.
