Tech mogul Elon Musk has expressed his worries about the current hostilities in Gaza and Ukraine, stating that there is a serious possibility that these conflicts might turn into a third world war.
Elon Musk made these remarks on Monday during a discussion on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). The event also featured Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate who has historically supported isolationist views.
To resolve the present conflicts diplomatically, Elon Musk suggested, "We need to figure out peace in Ukraine, and I think we need to restore normal relations with Russia," as quoted by The Hill. He warned that World War III threatens civilization and must be avoided at all costs.
Musk also recommended making geographical concessions to Russia to solve the Ukraine war. He emphasized the need for a ceasefire and said military action against Russia is unlikely to succeed.
Officials in Ukraine, meanwhile, are skeptical of the proposals of the owners of Tesla and SpaceX. In October 2022, Ukrainian envoy Andriy Melnyk bluntly said "F- off" in response to Musk's suggestion.
Elon Musk Criticizes The US
Elon Musk also expressed further worries about the US's declining influence in the global economy. He said, as reported by Marca, "The United States does not have the power benchmark it used to have, and World War III would represent a war of superpower alliances in which one cannot easily defeat the other."
The tech billionaire warned that China, Russia, and Iran may build a powerful alliance that would threaten Western nations. He emphasized that the basis of conflict is industrial productivity and economic strength, areas in which Eastern forces far exceed Western countries.
Former US President Donald Trump expressed similar concerns about a third global war in New Hampshire. He called this kind of global conflict "the annihilation of the world."
Join us for this discussion of the state of war in the world https://t.co/ooPihPFWmN
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 23, 2023
X to Leave Europe?
The news comes days after reports on Elon Musk's disappointment with the EU's new Digital Services Act (DSA), which names large internet companies "Very Large Online Platforms." This categorization prompts tech firms to be held legally liable for user-generated material, including unlawful postings, misinformation, and privacy breaches. Due to these regulations, Musk is reportedly considering removing X from Europe, per Mashable. However, Politico reported that Elon Musk denied the report and will have to comply with the EU's DSA.
Mobile analytics company Apptopia reports that 9% of X's worldwide monthly active users are European. According to Insider, daily X use has declined dramatically in recent months, both in the EU and globally.
TechCrunch earlier reported that X has initiated a pilot program, charging a $1 charge to new members in the Philippines and New Zealand, to combat the rising problem of spam and fake accounts. The initiative, called 'Not a Bot,' seeks to reduce unwanted behavior on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The main objective of this initiative, according to the X support account, is to enhance the platform's ongoing attempts to combat spam, manipulation, and bot-related activities while maintaining proper accessibility. Additionally, the social networking site noted that the $1 fee is not intended to generate income.
