Scotland’s former First Minister, Humza Yousaf, made headlines with his stark critique of Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X, formerly known as Twitter. Yousaf's remarks painted Musk as a dangerous figure wielding his immense wealth and influence irresponsibly, labeling him as “one of the most dangerous men on the planet.” The former First Minister’s concerns highlight the broader issue of disinformation on social media platforms and the urgent need for regulatory oversight.

 

Yousaf's comments came on the heels of a controversial action by Musk, who had earlier that day deleted a repost on his platform. The post promoted a false claim about detainment camps being set up in the Falkland Islands for those involved in recent violent riots. This wasn’t the first time Musk had been involved in such incidents; he has repeatedly inserted himself into discussions surrounding unrest in the UK, especially following the tragic murders of three young girls in Southport. Musk has even gone as far as dubbing the Prime Minister “two-tier Keir” and suggesting that “civil war is inevitable” in the country.

 

“He is accountable to nobody, he has vast wealth at his fingertips, and he uses it for some of the most wicked evil I've seen,” Yousaf declared, expressing deep concern over Musk's unchecked power and influence. The former First Minister did not mince words when he drew parallels between Musk and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, referring to them as “bosom buddies.” Yousaf’s characterization of Musk as one of the most dangerous men in the world underscores the perceived threat posed by individuals who, in his view, use their platforms to spread harmful and false information.

 

Speaking alongside broadcaster Matthew Stadlen, Yousaf further elaborated on his concerns, acknowledging that while Musk is not an “idiot,” but rather, a very intelligent and tech-savvy individual, his actions on social media are deeply troubling. Yousaf emphasized that Musk has the capability to research and verify the claims he amplifies but chooses not to, thereby contributing to the spread of disinformation. 

 

The repost in question, which was quickly deleted by Musk, featured a fabricated headline falsely attributed to the Daily Telegraph. The fake headline claimed that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was planning to establish detention camps in the Falkland Islands for rioters. Yousaf criticized Musk's failure to verify the accuracy of such claims before sharing them with his vast audience, arguing that this kind of irresponsible behavior highlights the urgent need for regulatory intervention.

 

However, despite his strong condemnation of Musk’s actions, Yousaf stopped short of advocating for the shutdown of X in the UK. Instead, he called for Prime Minister Starmer to seize the opportunity to regulate social media companies, emphasizing the necessity of holding these platforms accountable for the content they disseminate.

 

The former First Minister’s remarks coincided with similar concerns voiced by his successor, John Swinney, who also called on social media companies to take more robust action against the spread of “dangerous” disinformation. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme, Swinney highlighted the need for significant improvements in the way social media platforms operate. “I think the social media companies have got a lot of improvement to undertake in their conduct,” he said, echoing Yousaf's sentiments.

 

Swinney also referred to recent guidance issued by Ofcom, which reminded social media companies of their obligations to remove content that incites hatred or violence. “I was very struck by the communication of Ofcom yesterday, reminding social media companies of their obligation to remove material that incites hatred or violence. I don’t think that’s been the case,” he added. Swinney’s comments reflect a growing frustration among policymakers with the perceived laxity of social media companies in addressing the proliferation of harmful content on their platforms.

 

The criticism of Elon Musk and the broader concerns about the role of social media in spreading disinformation reflect a growing awareness of the impact these platforms can have on public discourse and societal stability. Yousaf’s portrayal of Musk as a dangerous figure underscores the potential risks posed by individuals who, whether through negligence or intent, contribute to the dissemination of false information on a massive scale.

 

Credit: The Independent  2024-08-10

 

 

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Messrs Yousaf and Swinney should "get with the game" and realise that Musk has more money than sense, frequently spouts rubbish, and has yet to tire of his latest toy!

 

His (Musk's) imbecilic burblings merely encourage the suggestions that social media needs regulating and controlling!

Edited August 10, 20241 yr by herfiehandbag

Perhaps Labour should nationalise X in the UK. Or just ban it competely. 

 

Musk is dangerous.

His influence is greater than it should be. Problem is, the media pick up on what he says and broadcasts it making it national and international news. Stop doing that, deprive him of the oxygen of publicity and watch him fade away like the tired old man he is.

Definitely take away his FRS. He brings the Royal Society into disrepute. And everything else he touches...

They sure don't like Musk since he quit squelching conservative viewpoints, do they?

 

Musk is going to end up like Howard Hughes. Alone, paranoid, collecting his urine in jars, and overdosing on drugs.

 

 

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

Humza Yousaf is good at spending other people's money and never making any himself.. whereas Elon Musk, although a bit bizarre at times, makes a lot of money... which one is better for the world ?

 

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

Credit: The Independent  2024-08-10

 

   The Independent newspaper now reporting in X exchanges .

X squabbles are now worthy of an article .

 

Billionaire or failed politician ? I'd feel better with Musk advice

Top bloke that Elon Musk! Anyone who stirs up the leftie wingers, especially these of dubious ethnic background, gets my support 🙂

2 hours ago, Scott Tracy said:

Perhaps Labour should nationalise X in the UK. Or just ban it competely. 

 

 

You know which countries have banned X?  China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and a few others.   Interesting you think Labour should do the same, says quite a lot about you.    

20 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

You know which countries have banned X?  China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and a few others.   Interesting you think Labour should do the same, says quite a lot about you.    

 

The problem is that we are in very uncharted waters in terms of the concentration of power through new media. We have anti-monopolistic regulations for tangible goods and even for printed media, but there is little in the way of regulation for social media; as Musk has proven, anyone with enough money and influence can buy up a platform and use it to trumpet his own views without, seemingly, any form of regulation or control. 

Musk is only a proponent of free speech and that scares lefties who only want to tell 'their truths'.  That's especially true of the Muslim faith followers.

Thank God Musk was born in South Africa and neither parent is American....phew.!!!

4 minutes ago, Geir Rasch said:

Which one is better for the world?

Answer: A dead Musk!

 

  Are you  left winger? 

18 minutes ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

Musk is only a proponent of free speech and that scares lefties who only want to tell 'their truths'.  That's especially true of the Muslim faith followers.

Free speech as long as it doesn't upset Musk....mmmm?

 

 

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter (now rebranded as X), several high-profile individuals and accounts have been banned. Here are some notable examples:

### 1. **Kathy Griffin**
   - **Reason:** Griffin was banned after she changed her profile name to "Elon Musk" and used his profile picture as part of a satire. Musk indicated that she was banned for impersonating him without clearly labeling it as parody, which violated the platform’s rules against impersonation.

### 2. **Ye (formerly Kanye West)**
   - **Reason:** Ye was banned for posting offensive and antisemitic content, including an image that combined a swastika with the Star of David. This incident followed a series of increasingly controversial tweets from Ye, leading to the ban under Musk's ownership.

### 3. **@ElonJet**
   - **Reason:** This account, run by college student Jack Sweeney, tracked the location of Elon Musk's private jet using publicly available flight data. Musk banned the account citing concerns about personal safety and privacy, although he had previously stated he would allow it to remain active in the name of free speech.

### 4. **Journalists (Various)**
   - **Reason:** In December 2022, several journalists from outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post were suspended. Musk claimed the suspensions were due to these journalists allegedly sharing information that put his personal safety at risk, though this was widely interpreted as a reaction to their critical coverage of him. The suspensions were later reversed following public backlash.

### 5. **Mastodon**
   - **Reason:** Mastodon, a decentralized social media platform, was banned after it promoted the ElonJet account, which Musk had banned. The Mastodon account was seen as encouraging what Musk considered doxxing or endangering his personal safety.

### 6. **Antifa Accounts**
   - **Reason:** Several accounts associated with the Antifa movement were banned. Musk has positioned himself as strongly opposed to the Antifa movement, which he has criticized as being violent and extremist.

### 7. **James Lindsay**
   - **Reason:** The conservative author and commentator was banned after violating X's rules on hateful conduct, particularly around issues related to gender identity and LGBTQ+ topics.

### 8. **Other Political and Activist Figures**
   - Various other figures, particularly those engaging in behavior Musk deems harmful or dangerous, have also been banned. This includes accounts that Musk believes violate the platform’s rules around doxxing, harassment, or spreading misinformation.

### Context
Elon Musk's approach to content moderation on X has been controversial, with critics arguing that his actions have been inconsistent with his stated commitment to free speech. He has reinstated some previously banned accounts (like Donald Trump's) while banning others, leading to debates about the balance between free expression and platform safety.

30 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

The problem is that we are in very uncharted waters in terms of the concentration of power through new media. We have anti-monopolistic regulations for tangible goods and even for printed media, but there is little in the way of regulation for social media; as Musk has proven, anyone with enough money and influence can buy up a platform and use it to trumpet his own views without, seemingly, any form of regulation or control. 

 

Sounds like you want to regulate peoples thoughts?  I'm sure I read a book that covered this kind of thing.   So long as its legal speech (X does not allow illegal speech) then what is the problem?   

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

Free speech as long as it doesn't upset Musk....mmmm?

 

 

Since Elon Musk took over Twitter (now rebranded as X), several high-profile individuals and accounts have been banned. Here are some notable examples:

### 1. **Kathy Griffin**
   - **Reason:** Griffin was banned after she changed her profile name to "Elon Musk" and used his profile picture as part of a satire. Musk indicated that she was banned for impersonating him without clearly labeling it as parody, which violated the platform’s rules against impersonation.

### 2. **Ye (formerly Kanye West)**
   - **Reason:** Ye was banned for posting offensive and antisemitic content, including an image that combined a swastika with the Star of David. This incident followed a series of increasingly controversial tweets from Ye, leading to the ban under Musk's ownership.

### 3. **@ElonJet**
   - **Reason:** This account, run by college student Jack Sweeney, tracked the location of Elon Musk's private jet using publicly available flight data. Musk banned the account citing concerns about personal safety and privacy, although he had previously stated he would allow it to remain active in the name of free speech.

### 4. **Journalists (Various)**
   - **Reason:** In December 2022, several journalists from outlets like CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post were suspended. Musk claimed the suspensions were due to these journalists allegedly sharing information that put his personal safety at risk, though this was widely interpreted as a reaction to their critical coverage of him. The suspensions were later reversed following public backlash.

### 5. **Mastodon**
   - **Reason:** Mastodon, a decentralized social media platform, was banned after it promoted the ElonJet account, which Musk had banned. The Mastodon account was seen as encouraging what Musk considered doxxing or endangering his personal safety.

### 6. **Antifa Accounts**
   - **Reason:** Several accounts associated with the Antifa movement were banned. Musk has positioned himself as strongly opposed to the Antifa movement, which he has criticized as being violent and extremist.

### 7. **James Lindsay**
   - **Reason:** The conservative author and commentator was banned after violating X's rules on hateful conduct, particularly around issues related to gender identity and LGBTQ+ topics.

### 8. **Other Political and Activist Figures**
   - Various other figures, particularly those engaging in behavior Musk deems harmful or dangerous, have also been banned. This includes accounts that Musk believes violate the platform’s rules around doxxing, harassment, or spreading misinformation.

### Context
Elon Musk's approach to content moderation on X has been controversial, with critics arguing that his actions have been inconsistent with his stated commitment to free speech. He has reinstated some previously banned accounts (like Donald Trump's) while banning others, leading to debates about the balance between free expression and platform safety.

 

Yawn.. Doxxing is not allowed.   Get over it.   

3 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Sounds like you want to regulate peoples thoughts?  I'm sure I read a book that covered this kind of thing.   So long as its legal speech (X does not allow illegal speech) then what is the problem?   

 

You would be quite relaxed about doing away any form of press regulation that allowed.....say....Putin to own and distribute a newspaper in the US or UK?

Edited August 10, 20241 yr by Will B Good

He's ruined X. 

 

Full of bots 

Just now, DonniePeverley said:

He's ruined X. 

 

Full of bots 

 

 

Yes,..... but they free speech bots....so that's fine.

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

Billionaire or failed politician ? I'd feel better with Musk advice

Hell , Im all for the planet being renamed , Elon. More power to  Billionaires who busted their butt to 

get ahead and create jobs & sustain economic growth!

Who the hell is Humza?

 

Edited August 10, 20241 yr by riclag

6 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

You would be quite relaxed about doing away any form of press regulation that allowed.....say....Putin to own and distribute a newspaper in the US or UK?

I have news for you.  Putin can distribute a newspaper in the USA.  

11 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

You would be quite relaxed about doing away any form of press regulation that allowed.....say....Putin to own and distribute a newspaper in the US or UK?

 

The only relevance Putin has in this discussion is that he has banned X in Russia.   I'm not the one agreeing with Putin unlike some of the leftists on here so perhaps take it up with them.  

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Top bloke that Elon Musk! Anyone who stirs up the leftie wingers, especially these of dubious ethnic background, gets my support 🙂

Spot on, Simon. He's not my favourite cup of tea, but the bloke has done more for the world than these left leaning, whining little children will ever do. They are labelling anyone that doesn't think like them as racist and/or dangerous. It has got to stop or it'll tip eventually and things will get ugly. His views on the UK riots and policing are close to home, which is why they are upset.

 

On Yousaf, who is a closet xenophobe (but that's ok right because he is not white and speaks from the left) was ruining Scotland and was widely despised by them. Stop speaking, dude, and move on! 

1 minute ago, daveAustin said:

 

On Yousaf, who is a closet xenophobe (but that's ok right because he is not white and speaks from the left) was ruining Scotland and was widely despised by them. Stop speaking, dude, and move on! 

 

   When he was in the Scottish Government , he also used African aid money and gave that money to terrorists to gain favour for his Family .

   He used Government aid money set for Africa  for his own ends and gave the money to terrorists 

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   When he was in the Scottish Government , he also used African aid money and gave that money to terrorists to gain favour for his Family .

   He used Government aid money set for Africa  for his own ends and gave the money to terrorists 

Links please, never heard of that one........🤔

22 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Yawn.. Doxxing is not allowed.   Get over it.   

 

Plus, hundreds of millions of active users, and he rattles off 8 who have been kicked off for what look to me like legitimate TxC violations... 

 

How many conservatives were banned before Elon bought it? Gizmodo says they can identify 12,000 accounts that were reinstated after Elon bought Twitter, and that was in 2022.  They also suggest his target is to reinstate 62,000.  It would be interesting to see a 2024 update.

 

How does that compare with 8?

 

https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-twitter-12000-banned-accounts-restored-data-1849848764

 

18 minutes ago, transam said:

Links please, never heard of that one........🤔

Humza Yousaf gave £250k to Gaza after overruling his officials

SNP First Minister insisted taxpayer funding should go to UNRWA at a time when his mother-in-law and father-in-law were trapped in warzone

 

Humza Yousaf has been accused of a conflict of interest after overriding officials to give £250,000 to a Gaza aid agency while members of his family were trapped in the warzone.

His mother-in-law and father-in-law were given safe passage out of Gaza via the Rafah crossing the following day, Nov 3.

 

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/03/08/humza-yousaf-gave-250k-gaza-despite-official-advice/

 

Everybody with lots of cash could be dangerous.

I red in Yahoo news, Bill Gates owns 80% of all agriculture land in USA! True or false?

A Blackrock is a really creepy thing with an asset of 10 trillion dollars.

Musk tells some, Blackrock absolutely not.

"some " Americans bought land in Soedan, 625 hA for 25000 $ ! Free to use anyway they like. Not told for what.

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

Humza Yousaf gave £250k to Gaza after overruling his officials

SNP First Minister insisted taxpayer funding should go to UNRWA at a time when his mother-in-law and father-in-law were trapped in warzone

 

Humza Yousaf has been accused of a conflict of interest after overriding officials to give £250,000 to a Gaza aid agency while members of his family were trapped in the warzone.

His mother-in-law and father-in-law were given safe passage out of Gaza via the Rafah crossing the following day, Nov 3.

 

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/03/08/humza-yousaf-gave-250k-gaza-despite-official-advice/

 

Oh, you never mentioned Gaza.......🤗