Elon Musk will not be arrested in Britain even if he pursues free speech on Twitter at all costs, a Government minister has said.
Business Minister Paul Scully was quizzed about the Tesla billionaire’s £34.5 billion deal to buy the social media site when he appeared at the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee.
News of the deal has sparked concerns over online safety due to Mr Musk's belief in absolute free speech - at a time when social media platforms are under pressure to regulate content.
Asked if the takeover was “good or bad for competition”, Mr Scully said: “It’s so early in the game, we have got to see actually how it develops - it’s more interesting for free speech and how that develops.
“Government of all parties isn’t great at predicting how digital markets move, they tend to be behind the curve on anything to do with social media and digital space because people can move so, so quickly in that area, as Elon Musk has done
“He surprised the world by the speed of this takeover.
“If he gets it right the kind of aims he’s got are noble but it’s just whether he can actually achieve those aims of encouraging open, free speech but of getting the algorithms corrected to encourage free and open space.”
Tory MP Nusrat Ghani asked what the looming Online Safety Bill would mean for the world’s richest man Mr Musk - and whether he could be arrested if he pursues free speech for Twitter at all costs.
She added: “It has extraterritorial powers and Elon Musk has said he will have absolute free speech on Twitter.
“Unfortunately, the Government’s Online Safety Bill mandates that platforms have to remove content that emotionally distresses people - so are we going to be arresting Elon Musk when he arrives in the UK, or are we going to change the Online Safety Bill?”
Mr Scully replied: “We won’t be arresting Elon Musk, I can leave that with you.”
Downing Street said all social networks had a responsibility to protect their users from harm.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "I think regardless of ownership all social media platforms must be responsible and that includes protecting their users from harm on their sites.
"Obviously it is too early to say what if any changes will be made to how Twitter operates. It remains an important tool. It's used by world leaders and we will continue to work with them to make sure it continues to improve."
The spokesman said the prospect of former US President Donald Trump being allowed back onto the site was "a matter for Twitter".
US senator Elizabeth Warren criticised the move, tweeting: "Billionaires like Elon Musk play by a different set of rules than everyone else, accumulating power for their own gain.
"We need a wealth tax and strong rules to hold Big Tech accountable."
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: "Free speech cannot mean a free pass for hatred.
"We must not forget the impacts of online hate speech, which fans the flames of prejudice and leads to appalling and tragic real-world violence.
"Social media companies must do more, not less, to protect their communities."
But Twitter founder Jack Dorsey welcomed the decision to let Mr Musk take the social media platform into private ownership.
"In principle, I don't believe anyone should own or run Twitter," he said in a series of tweets.
"It wants to be a public good at a protocol level, not a company.
"Solving for the problem of it being a company however, Elon is the singular solution I trust. I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness."
