Elon Musk has turned his influential platform into a megaphone for dangerous stereotypes, proving the adage: a little knowledge is more dangerous than ignorance
Musk is no stranger to polarizing statements, having grown to prominence for his often-contrarian positions. However, since his 2022 acquisition of Twitter, now X, he has taken to using his influential position as a cudgel against various groups. In 2023 alone, he slammed inclusion and diversity as “propaganda” and criticized Americans who express disdain for their country—a far cry from his claims of “free speech absolutism.”
Since cozying up to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Musk has cranked up his rhetoric. He has used his platform on X to support Europe’s far-right parties and—most recently—taken to blaming British-Pakistanis for “grooming gangs” in the U.K. as a means to push for the ouster of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
There is no denying the role of some British-Pakistanis in grooming gangs in the U.K. and no one can argue the need to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Musk’s outbursts, however, allege the grooming gangs are predominantly made up of men of Pakistani origin—an assertion already dismissed by a 2020 U.K. Home Office report. The same report stressed that most child sexual abuse gangs in the U.K. are composed of white men under 30.
This is in line with British demographics. Far from the caricature painted by Musk, Pakistanis in Britain are a diverse and integral part of the nation’s social, cultural, and economic fabric. According to the 2021 U.K. Census, British-Pakistanis comprise around 2.3% of the total population and are involved in various sectors, including healthcare, education, business, and public services. They are also active in public life, as evidenced by London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Sajid Javid, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. Blaming the entire community for the crimes of a few undermines these successes.
The online hate campaign spearheaded by Musk risks real world consequences. The U.S. Home Office says hate crimes in the U.K. have surged in recent years, with racially motivated attacks accounting for the majority. The impact is deeply personal for victims, who experience heightened fear, exclusion, and even physical harm.
It is also no coincidence that Musk’s deriding of British-Pakistanis is an extension of his attempt to curry favor with Britain’s rightwing. He has accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of failing to tackle grooming gangs while director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013. Most of Musk’s harangues against British-Pakistanis include calls for Starmer to step down, positioning the community as collateral damage for the Tesla CEO’s ultimate aim of securing a preferred government in Britain.
What makes the situation worse is X’s inability to take any action against its owner. Social media companies have a moral obligation to enforce policies against hate speech, regardless of the stature of the individual involved. Misinformation thrives in environments where ignorance prevails; British-Pakistanis must take the lead in countering voices such as Musk by promoting awareness of their contributions to British society.
Musk’s current stance of targeting Pakistanis in Britain is a stark reminder of the power wielded by influential individuals and the potential for harm when that power is misused for personal gain. Left unchecked, this campaign tears at the fragile threads of multicultural harmony, emboldening those who wield hate as a weapon. It is time for all sectors of society to hold Musk accountable and to stand united against hate in all its forms.
The truth must prevail: British Pakistanis are not a monolith where the sins of an individual reflect on the entire community. Silence feeds hate; truth must rise louder, as the only antidote to ignorance is fearless, collective accountability.