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Musk’s ‘ragebaiting and falsehoods’ distract from genuine safeguarding
Elon Musk relentlessly amplifies misinformation regarding grooming gangs via his platform, X.
In 2015, a thorough, statutory, Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was established under the leadership of Professor Alexis Jay, with the final report released in October 2022.
Throughout the 89 weeks from that report until the General Election, it is my understanding that the previous government acted upon none of the inquiry’s recommendations.
Now, with a government pledging to implement those suggestions, Musk’s platform and even some political factions assert that the priority is not in enacting these recommendations but in wasting time initiating another inquiry.
In contrast, Professor Jay advocates for the UK to take action.
As the global community seeks to curtail social media’s abysmal ability to propagate harm and animosity, misinformation and disinformation, the proprietor of X claims that the UK’s safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips – who is diligently working on applying those recommendations – is a ‘rape genocide apologist’.
So, what are Musk’s motivations? Is it to gain political leverage in the U.S., where ‘antisocial’ media corporations are eager to evade their responsibilities for verifying facts, in favor of promoting ‘free speech’?
Or could it simply be an act of ragebaiting – vehemently shouting falsehoods to generate substantial profits from the multitude of decent individuals who flock to X to denounce such misrepresentation of genuine free speech? Tim, Kent
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Politicians must adhere to the truth regarding grooming gangs, and social media users must too
Malik’s account of experiencing his identity as a British Muslim student feeling besieged (MetroTalk, Wed) should serve as a reminder to those attempting to vilify immigrants from specific cultures or religions due to the unlawful acts of a mere few.
As he rightly notes, ‘the Home Office’s own research from 2020 illustrates that the majority of perpetrators in group-based child sexual exploitation cases are white and that no community or culture is “uniquely predisposed to offending”.
Consequently, politicians across the spectrum must remain committed to the facts.
Social media users should also hold themselves to this standard. The dissemination of misinformation is a perilous tactic that only serves to deepen divisions among the diverse communities of Britain’s towns and cities.
We possess far more commonalities than differences, and this should be our focus as we embark on the new year. There is already enough discord in our world without adding to it through the actions of politicians and citizens alike. Al Charlton, via email
Far-right politicians exploiting tragedy and vilifying Muslims
I completely concur with Malik that politicians – particularly those from the far-right – are exploiting the dreadful grooming incidents to vilify the entire Muslim community.
I suspect their intentions stem from a place of animosity and division rather than any real concern for the victims involved. It is notable that most are supporters of the newly elected US president – a figure who has faced allegations of rape, sexual assault, and harassment from at least 26 women and was recorded boasting about groping women. Neil, York
Would the reaction differ if the grooming gangs were English?
Elon Musk has escalated the rhetoric, the Tories have been “weaponising trauma,” and Farage is calling for an inquiry targeting “Pakistani men.” However, here’s a vital question that needs to be addressed: if the grooming gangs being referenced were white and English, would the response be the same?
We all recognize that over the years, numerous paedophile rings have surfaced, along with grooming gangs and celebrities indulging in child pornography – all offenders with white identities. Consequently, yet again, the surface is merely scratched, and the torrent of racist rhetoric completely overshadows and drowns out the horrific experiences of the victims, similar to the Southport stabbing incident. Utterly appalling and laced with a substantial dose of low-IQ fanaticism on top. Heather Wallace-Brown, London
Musk’s history on serious matters – can we take his concern seriously?
How can anyone believe that Musk is genuinely concerned about sexual offenses when he previously called someone a paedophile in jest?
Vernon Unsworth, the hero who saved Thai boys from a flooded cave, labelled Musk as a “bully billionaire” after the tech entrepreneur dubbed him a “pedo guy.” What triggered Musk’s outburst toward Unsworth? The dismissal of his mini-submarine proposal for the rescue operation. Talk about being petty and vindictive. Sam Missford, via Metro.co.uk
Trump, Musk, and Global Domination
So Donald Trump has plans to annex Canada and invade Greenland and Panama? His quest for global domination is being championed by propaganda chief Elon Musk, who is already plotting to replace Sir Keir Starmer with Tommy Robinson.
If the rest of the world wishes to counteract these ambitions, we must boycott everything associated with America, especially Tesla vehicles. Martin J Phillips, Leeds
