Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich has called for authorities to threaten Elon Musk with arrest, citing concerns about Musk’s control and influence. In a column published on Friday, Reich, who served under President Bill Clinton, argued that despite Musk’s immense wealth and ownership of a major social media platform, he should be held accountable for his actions.
Reich criticized Musk’s 2022 acquisition of Twitter, now rebranded as X, as a dangerous pursuit of power rather than a commitment to free speech. He suggested that global regulators should consider arresting Musk if he continues to spread misinformation and hate on the platform. Reich also recommended boycotting Tesla and X as part of a broader strategy to curb Musk’s influence.
Drawing a parallel to the recent arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France—who faced charges related to criminal activity on his platform—Reich argued that similar actions could be taken against Musk. Durov was detained at Le Bourget airport and ordered to pay a hefty bail as part of a larger investigation into alleged misuse of his messaging app.
Reich further advocated for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to intervene, proposing that the FTC should compel Musk to remove harmful content or face a lawsuit under Section Five of the FTC Act. He emphasized that Musk’s free-speech rights should not outweigh the public’s safety and suggested ending U.S. government contracts with Musk’s SpaceX due to his disregard for public interest.
Reich also criticized Musk’s support for former President Donald Trump, urging voters to prevent Trump’s election. He believes Musk’s actions and misuse of power warrant serious scrutiny and regulatory action.