London’s Metropolitan Police Commissioner has threatened foreigners with legal action if they are found to be “whipping up hatred” online. One potential target for investigation is Elon Musk, owner of X, who could face prosecution under the current crackdown on supposed hate speech following a series of right-wing riots across the nation.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated in an interview with Sky News on Friday that “we will throw the full force of the law at people” and emphasized that online crime would not go unpunished regardless of the perpetrator’s location. He mentioned Elon Musk as an example of a potential target for investigation due to his social media presence.
As of Friday, more than 700 people had been arrested and over 300 charged in connection with their alleged participation in the riots, which began following a stabbing spree in Southport that left three children dead and ten injured. The demonstrations were initially sparked by a false rumor that the attacker was a Muslim immigrant but soon escalated into a broader backlash against Islam and mass immigration. Rioters even set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham last Sunday.
Out of those arrested, over 30 have been charged with online offenses, such as sharing footage of the riots or posting content that incites violence or hatred, according to the Crown Prosecutorial Service. Critics argue that these measures stifle free speech and create a “two-tier” justice system, in which white British suspects are treated more harshly than immigrants.
Elon Musk highlighted this disparity by sharing a post on Saturday comparing two cases: Steven Mailen, who was sentenced to over two years in prison for shouting at a police officer during a violent demonstration, and Mustafa al Mbaidib, a Jordanian national fined £26 ($33) last month for assaulting a female police officer. Musk called this “surely unequal justice” in the UK.
The billionaire also shared memes comparing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to a Nazi officer and the British government to the totalitarian dictatorship of George Orwell’s ‘1984. Starmer is currently considering amending Britain’s Online Safety Act, which would punish social media companies that allow the spread of “legal but harmful” content. The act, passed by the previous Conservative government, initially included such a clause but was ultimately removed after Business and Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch objected to its focus on “hurt feelings.