As what promises to be a tumultuous year begins, the signs of a rightward shift have already emerged, starting with the Meta CEO’s announcement that he will champion “free speech.” However, as journalist Ken Klippenstein has pointed out, this supposed lifting of censorship does not extend to publishing leaked documents about the US Vice President-elect, JD Vance. In my view, it is unlikely to extend to promoting transparency regarding Donald Trump and his administration, which is filled with figures who could aptly be described as dangerous and unfit for office.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk is openly embracing far-right ideology, selectively amplifying news designed to incite hatred and violence towards Muslims. As noted by the hosts of Chapo Trap House in their latest episode, Musk notably went silent when Brazil banned Twitter. This serves as a stark reminder of the right-wing’s co-opting of Orwellian doublespeak: they label themselves as advocates for free speech while disseminating vile, divisive hate rhetoric.
Their obsession with paedophilia and child abuse—a topic most ordinary people rarely think about—is particularly troubling. They conveniently ignore the fact that their own idols and associates are often exposed as paedophiles, domestic abusers, and violent criminals. This hypocrisy is unsurprising, given that many of these figures are brazen liars and opportunists. According to their narrative, the UK is experiencing an epidemic of refugees and Muslims committing heinous crimes. Much like Enoch Powell’s infamous “rivers of blood” speech, we are supposed to believe these events are happening everywhere and all the time. The reality, of course, is far less dramatic.
Incidents such as the tragic Southport murder and the grooming gang scandals, while horrific, are not widespread or daily occurrences. Figures like Musk, Kemi Badenoch, and Tommy Robinson exploit these isolated tragedies to push their agendas and profit from fearmongering. This tactic is not new, but its amplification through powerful platforms makes it particularly dangerous.
Returning to Brazil, Musk and Zuckerberg should seriously consider the consequences of their so-called “free speech absolutism.” If they believe this stance will go unchallenged, they are gravely mistaken. Similarly, our Prime Minister must recognise that appearing lenient towards the far right will not bode well for him. It is likely to lead to a resounding defeat at the hands of an insurgent far-right coalition, potentially including the already racist Tory party in its original form.
Listening to the far right complain about censorship is far preferable to granting them the freedom to spread violence and misery. In short, banning Twitter would effectively silence Musk. If Trump threatens tariff wars, alternative strategies must be developed, but capitulating to these extremists is not an option.
Last August, the UK witnessed the terrifying transformation of stochastic terrorism into real acts of violence. This was merely a precursor to the return of the “minor Dajjal,” Trump, and his followers. As a community, we must come together, as we did last August, and stand in solidarity against these forces. It would be more than welcome if our government joined us in taking a stand—choosing to be on the right side of history for once.
