Elon Musk issues chilling free speech message over Keir Starmer's social media ban

Elon Musk has launched a scathing attack on Labour's forthcoming prohibition on social media use for children under 16.

The tech billionaire, who recently became the world's first trillionaire, took to his platform X to denounce the policy.

He branded the UK a "police state" in response to the measures announced by Sir Keir Starmer.

Mr Musk later added: "This censorship law is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The real goal is to enable the UK government to track everyone."

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His own platform, X, falls within the scope of the new restrictions, which will prevent younger users from accessing major social media services.

Under the government's proposals, adults would verify their identities through digital IDs, facial recognition technology, or credit card details once younger users are barred from platforms.

However, ministers have indicated that many existing account holders would not face additional checks.

Those with accounts established more than 16 years ago, or with credit cards already linked to their profiles, would be exempt from the verification process.

Email addresses that have previously been verified would also satisfy the requirements.

Adults without existing verification would need to undergo facial recognition checks to continue using social media services under the new framework.

The criticism marks the latest flashpoint between Musk and the Prime Minister, who have repeatedly clashed in recent weeks.

During a visit to York last Thursday, Sir Keir accused the X owner of meddling in domestic affairs following the murder of Henry Nowak.

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The Prime Minister said: "Musk, again, has been interfering in our politics in the last few days, trying to whip up division that is not who we are in Britain.

"In Britain, we are reasonable, tolerant people.

"When we have a terrible case like Henry's case, Henry Nowak, we react calmly, as his family have done."

Violent demonstrations erupted in Southampton after bodycam footage emerged showing officers handcuffing the 18-year-old as he lay dying.

Mr Musk's posts on X urged people to share footage of Nowak's treatment by police, comparing media coverage unfavourably to that of George Floyd's death.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey condemned the billionaire's interventions as "a coordinated campaign of foreign interference in British democracy by a rogue American tech billionaire who seems hellbent on injecting poison directly into our domestic politics".

Sir Ed added: "Let's not forget this is a man who has repeatedly used his platform to incite violence on Britain's streets."

Nowak's killer, Vickrum Digwa, received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years on Monday.

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