Elon Musk, owner of the social network Musk, known for his stance in defense of freedom of expression, shared a message on his platform that has ignited debate both in the United Kingdom and internationally.
The businessman reposted a message originally published by the “Inevitable West” account, a page that describes itself as “defending Western values and culture,” with messages in favor of “cultural heritage, unity and Christianity.” The content of the message warned that “hundreds of British citizens, including journalists, have reported that the police visited them this weekend due to their publications on X.” Musk not only shared the message, but added his own comment, calling the situation “crazy” and finished with a forceful phrase: “Let’s make Orwell fiction again,” in reference to the classic “1984” by George Orwell, a novel that portrays a totalitarian regime where freedoms of thought and expression are strictly controlled.
Musk’s message is framed in the recent case of Allison Pearson, a columnist for the British newspaper The Telegraph, who revealed that she was visited by the police at her home last Sunday. Pearson explained that two officers arrived unannounced to inform her that she was being investigated under Section 17 of the Public Order Act 1986, legislation aimed at combating racial hatred. However, what shocked the journalist the most was not only the nature of the investigation, but the restrictions with which the officers handled the situation.
According to Pearson, the police refused to give him details. They did not tell him what the publication in question was, nor did they reveal who had filed the complaint. “How can I defend myself if I don’t know what I’m accused of?” exclaimed the journalist in a subsequent interview with GB News. For Pearson, what she experienced is a clear example of how law enforcement is prioritizing what she called “thought crimes” over more serious crimes such as robberies, assaults or even violent crimes.
The incident, which took place on a day as symbolic for Britons as Remembrance Sunday, when the United Kingdom honors those killed in combat, led Pearson to reflect on the state of freedoms in his country. According to his story, he reminded the police that young people his age had given their lives to protect freedom of expression and that their visit represented a threat to those values. “This is not justice, it is tyranny,” he said.
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This case has sparked a wave of outrage among public and political figures both inside and outside the United Kingdom. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the police’s behavior “appalling”, while other Conservative leaders, including Liz Truss and Nigel Farage, denounced what they saw as an “Orwellian” practice that threatens to undermine the foundations of British democracy. Farage, in particular, criticized the chilling effect that these types of investigations have on ordinary people, who are afraid to express their opinions on social media for fear of legal or social reprisals.
Musk’s intervention has amplified the case internationally. The businessman, who has been appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency in the next administration of American Donald Trump, not only expressed his outrage at the Pearson case, but also highlighted what he considers a dangerous trend in the United Kingdom. “This has to stop,” Musk wrote on his platform.
However, at the moment there is no evidence that other people have received a visit from the police, except for Person, who mentioned that he has received messages from other people who have been the subject of similar investigations for publications on social networks, often without knowing exactly what triggered the accusations.
The Public Order Act of 1986, under which the journalist is being investigated, was born in response to tragic cases such as the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a young victim of a racist attack in the 1990s. However, critics such as Pearson and Other commentators point out that the original purpose of these laws has been distorted, and they are now being used to control public discourse rather than protect victims of real crimes.
