British government had 'constructive' talks with Musk's X over disinformation, minister says

LONDON — The U.K. government has had "constructive" talks with Elon Musk's social media site X over the spread of misinformation and other harmful content, technology minister Peter Kyle told CNBC Friday.

Kyle told CNBC's Arabile Gumede that the government had been in contact with all the major social media platforms — including Musk's X — over the summer about misinformation and the role they have in propagating harmful material.

The minister said that, although he hasn't had direct contact with Musk himself, he is "in touch often with his local chief executives here in the United Kingdom."

"So far, it has been a constructive set of conversations," he said, adding that, though there are "differences" in views between the two parties, they talk them through.

Citizens and governments around the world have higher expectations about social media platforms today and the role they play in keeping people safe and mitigating potential harms stemming from their products, Kyle said.

"It is a privilege having access to the British economy and society. And I just expect any company that comes to work here and aspires to sell products and services into our country to respect that," he added.

Kyle's comments to CNBC come after misinformation spread online after a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in northwest England sparked far-right, anti-immigration riots — with shops and mosques being attacked in towns across the country.

Multiple social media users at the time spread false information about the alleged perpetrator, who has since been charged with murder and attempted murder, claiming he was an asylum seeker.

During the riots, Musk, who owns X, made comments about the situation in the U.K., calling Prime Minister Keir