Robert Reich, who served as Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, argued in a column published Friday that Elon Musk is “out of control” and needs to be reined in.
“He may be the richest man in the world. He may own one of the most influential social media platforms in the world. But that doesn't mean we can't stop him.” Reich wroteIt also includes a list of six things people can do to rein Musk in.
After Musk bought Twitter (now known as X) in 2022, Reich called the deal “dangerous nonsense.” He argued that Musk's purchase was “just about power,” not about free speech.
Reich called on people to boycott Tesla and X, adding that “regulators around the world should threaten to arrest Musk if he doesn't stop spreading lies and hatred against X.”
In a column for the Guardian, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich suggested that Elon Musk is “out of control.” (Left: Matthew Staver/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Right: (Photo: Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Former Labor Secretary Derided for Blaming Corporate Greed for Rising Egg Prices: 'Why Weren't We Greedy Last Year?'
Reich argued that regulators around the world may already be considering threatening to arrest Musk, citing France's arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov as an example.
Durov was arrested last week at Le Bourget airport outside Paris as part of a larger investigation that began earlier this year. A judge ordered him released on bail of €5 million after French prosecutors said he allowed criminal activity on the messaging app. Accusations against Durov include his platform being used for child sexual abuse and drug trafficking, and Telegram refusing to share information and documents with investigators as required by law.
“In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission should require Musk to remove lies that may put individuals at risk, and if he doesn't comply, sue him under Section 5 of the FTC Act,” Reich argued. “Musk's free speech rights under the First Amendment cannot be taken over the public interest.”
The former labor secretary also recommended that the U.S. government terminate Musk's contract with SpaceX.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference & Expo in Washington, March 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (Associated Press)
For more articles on Media and Culture click here
“Why does the US government allow Musk's satellites and rocket launchers to be essential to national security given his utter disregard for the public interest? Why give him more economic power when he has repeatedly abused it and shown disregard for the public interest?” he wrote.
Reich's final suggestion was for the American people to “make sure Musk's favorite candidate for president isn't elected.”
Click here to get the FOX News app
Musk supports it Former President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report.
