Following the events in Southport, England, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle of the British Royal Family criticized Elon Musk during a four-day trip to Colombia.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took a tough stance against misinformation spread on social media at a summit on digital responsibility. Harry said the violence that followed the murder of three girls in Southport on July 29 was the result of misinformation spread on social media.
In a speech yesterday, Harry said, “Everything that happens online is on the streets in a matter of minutes. People are acting on information that is not true.” He also emphasized that many people experience “fear and uncertainty” about artificial intelligence and that “education and awareness” are important in combating misinformation.
X founder Elon Musk has come under intense criticism for the misinformation spread on his platform about these events. Musk even fell victim to misinformation by sharing a fake story that far-right extremist Keir Starmer would look into the detention camps.
Harry said, “We really need to be able to distinguish what is wrong from what is right. In an ideal world, people in positions of influence need to take more responsibility,” Harry said. “We don't discuss facts anymore. As long as people can continue to spread lies, insult and bully, social cohesion will be completely broken.”
“The digital age has almost created a culture of 'if you don't have anything interesting to say, don't say anything at all' and this is fundamentally changing how we move through the world and how we connect with each other,” said Meghan Markle.
