British Prime Minister Keir Starmer escalated his criticism of Elon Musk on Thursday, accusing the billionaire entrepreneur of fueling social divisions in the United Kingdom while backing legal action against Musk's artificial intelligence company over the alleged creation of explicit AI-generated content targeting a Labour lawmaker.
The dispute unfolded as Starmer met the family of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student whose fatal stabbing in Southampton has become the center of a growing political and online controversy. The prime minister's remarks linked two separate but increasingly intertwined debates in Britain: the spread of misinformation on social media and the rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence.
Speaking after meetings in West Yorkshire and later at Downing Street, Starmer directly accused Musk of inflaming tensions surrounding the Nowak case.
"We also need to assert who we are as a country, because Musk again has been interfering in our politics in the last few days, trying to whip up division. That is not who we are in Britain," Starmer said.
The comments came after Musk used X to highlight the circumstances surrounding Nowak's death. The teenager was fatally stabbed by 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, who allegedly claimed that Nowak had racially abused and attacked him. The incident drew national attention after police officers handcuffed the wounded teenager while he was bleeding from his injuries, a decision now under investigation by Britain's police watchdog.
The tragedy has since become a flashpoint for online activists and political groups. Musk's posts echoed arguments that the case reflected broader institutional bias against white Britons, a narrative that has gained traction among supporters of Restore Britain, a far-right political movement that Musk has publicly endorsed.
Downing Street stopped short of identifying specific posts that prompted concern but indicated that officials were troubled by the broader tone and cumulative impact of Musk's commentary. Government officials emphasized that Nowak's family themselves have repeatedly urged calm while investigations continue.
The online fallout has already produced real-world consequences.
According to the Hampshire Police Federation, misinformation circulating online falsely identified officers allegedly involved in Nowak's arrest. The federation stated that one former officer has gone into hiding after receiving threats and that several officers have faced harassment.
In a statement, the federation said it had suspended its social media activity because of "a sudden surge in online trolls and AI going through all platforms trying to find any information they could about our members, with a view to threatening their safety."
The organization added that wrongly identified officers had been forced from their homes and had "serious threats made against their life."
Starmer's confrontation with Musk extends beyond political commentary. The prime minister also voiced support for Labour MP Jess Asato, who has filed a legal claim against Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI in London's High Court.
The lawsuit alleges that Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI, was used to create fabricated sexualized images and videos depicting Asato. According to court filings cited in reports, the content included images portraying her in a bikini and a video showing her being "chloroformed and prepared for a sexual assault."
Starmer sided firmly with the Labour lawmaker.
"Jess Asato is absolutely right in the action she is taking. Disgusting images were created, in her particular case by Grok," he said.
The prime minister argued that regulators should be prepared to intervene aggressively if platforms fail to address harmful AI-generated content. He further claimed that the government had previously challenged Grok over the spread of sexualized content and images involving minors.
Musk has not publicly addressed Starmer's latest criticism. The billionaire has increasingly used X as a platform for political commentary across Europe and North America, often engaging in debates over immigration, free speech and national identity.
The political controversy surrounding the Nowak case intensified further Tuesday night when demonstrations in Southampton turned violent. Police reported that eleven officers and one police dog were injured during clashes involving protesters and counter-protesters. Authorities said some participants included far-right agitators who had traveled to the city following online calls for action.
The response from mainstream political leaders has focused largely on preventing the tragedy from becoming a catalyst for wider unrest.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who also met members of Nowak's family on Thursday, delivered a message markedly different from the rhetoric circulating online.
"Henry's family do not want anger to tear communities apart," Badenoch wrote after the meeting. "His family want his memory to help bring our society together."
