Lib Dem leader urges Ofcom to probe Musk over X crimes

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has urged UK communications regulator Ofcom to launch an investigation into Elon Musk, alleging that crimes are being committed on the social media platform X. In an interview with BBC Politics editor Laura Kuenssberg, Davey said Musk should be held personally responsible for breaches of the Online Safety Act, arguing that the law exists to protect children and that the platform has allowed harmful content to slip through. Davey said, on the BBC program, that X had shown adverts for content involving paedophile imagery, self-harm, and grooming, and he argued that the scale and persistence of such material amount to criminal activity under the legislation.

Under the Online Safety Act, which came into force earlier this year, online platforms are required to implement stricter age-verification checks and to remove illegal content promptly or face substantial fines. The government says the framework is designed to shield children and vulnerable users from harmful material. The response from the tech sector and some US-based companies has been critical, with Musk accusing the act of aiming to suppress free speech and alleging that Ofcom has taken a heavy-handed approach to enforcement. Davey contends that Musk’s leadership at X has intensified risks by removing child-safety measures, a claim he says warrants Ofcom scrutiny.

X has been contacted for a response, according to the BBC report. The Lib Dem attack comes amid a broader controversy surrounding Musk’s management of the platform and his clashes with UK politicians over free-speech and safety rules. Davey contends that the law is clear and that the actions of the platform under Musk’s ownership amount to violations of its duties under the Online Safety Act, framing the issue as a matter of accountability rather than a political jab.

The political moment is closely tied to questions Davey has raised about Musk’s influence on British public life. The Lib Dem leader has used the Bournemouth conference to step up his critique of the tech billionaire, charging that Musk’s objections to the Online Safety Act are not about protecting free expression but about preserving a platform that operates with limited responsibility. Davey’s remarks at the conference come after a recent exchange in which he accused Musk of “meddling in British democracy” and of engaging in rhetoric that could incite violence. In London at a separate event linked to the Unite the Kingdom rally organized by far-right activists, Musk criticized immigration policy and told attendees to “fight back,” comments Davey described as inappropriate for a platform with global reach. Musk dismissed Davey as a “craven coward” in response to those remarks.

During his Bournemouth keynote, Davey is expected to argue that the real issue is Musk’s ego and wealth, not a principled stance on free speech. He is set to declare that the Online Safety Act is not a tool to punish dissent but a framework to prevent harm, particularly to children, and he will call on Ofcom to take concrete action against X for violations he says are occurring in real time on the platform. The Lib Dem plan also includes a procedural move intended to pressure Parliament to compel Musk to testify. The party intends to table a motion upon Parliament’s return that would activate a rarely used device to summon Musk to appear at the bar of the House of Commons for MPs to question him about his actions at the Unite the Kingdom rally and on X more broadly.

Davey’s push reflects a broader debate in the United Kingdom about how to regulate social media platforms in the era of aggressive online misinformation, harmful content, and political activism conducted through digital channels. The Online Safety Act, which the government says aims to protect children and vulnerable users, has faced pushback from some technology companies that argue it could stifle legitimate speech and hinder innovation. Proponents like Davey argue that platform accountability is long overdue and that regulators must ensure that owners and executives cannot deflect responsibility by blaming algorithms or users.

The interview with Kuenssberg is scheduled to air Sunday at 0900 BST on BBC One and will be available on BBC iPlayer. It is expected to feature additional detail about the Lib Dem strategy to compel Musk’s appearance in Westminster and to outline the party’s broader critique of Musk’s approach to regulation, safety, and democracy. The BBC notes that Ofcom has historically taken a measured stance on enforcement while emphasizing consumer protections and child safety as central tenets of the Online Safety Act. Whether the regulatory agency will pursue an investigation against Musk and X remains an open question as Ofcom reviews and updates its approach to platform accountability in light of ongoing public pressure and shifting political dynamics.

The developments come as UK Prime Ministerial and parliamentary conversations continue to grapple with how best to balance free expression, innovation, and public safety in a digital age dominated by platforms with global reach. Davey’s remarks underscore how European and global scrutiny of Musk’s platform is increasingly intersecting with domestic policy debates, including steps Parliament may take to compel tech leaders to explain their practices and justify their compliance with national safety standards. As the legal and political processes unfold, observers will be watching to see whether Ofcom opens a formal inquiry into X and how Musk and his representatives respond to the calls for accountability from the Lib Dems and other political actors.