Regulators Set Their Sights on Elon Musk

The War Begins

Alastair Crooke reports that regulators are taking aim at Elon Musk and Pavel Durov. This news comes from a recent Washington Post headline, and an article from former US Labor Secretary, Robert Reich, in the British Guardian newspaper. Reich suggests that regulators should threaten Musk with arrest, similar to the recent incident involving Pavel Durov in Paris.

The battle lines have been drawn. There is a clear indication of an impending crackdown on the 'Far-Right' and internet users who spread 'disinformation' or misinformation that threatens the public's cognitive infrastructure.

The ruling class is visibly upset that their technical expertise and consensus on practically everything is being rejected by the 'deplorables'. They warn of prosecutions, convictions, and fines for cyber actors who disrupt digital literacy.

Populism: A Threat to Technocratic Elites

Professor Frank Furedi notes an alliance of western leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz, who openly despise populism. Starmer has repeatedly referred to the threat posed by populism during his recent visits to Berlin and Paris. He sees populism as a threat to the power of technocratic elites throughout Europe.

The elite's anti-populist hysteria stems from their awareness that they have lost touch with their people's values and respect. They realize it's only a matter of time before they face serious challenges.

Populism Gains Ground in Germany

This reality was evident in Germany's recent elections, where non-establishment parties secured 60% of the vote in Thüringen and 46% in Saxony. The establishment parties, or Staatsparteien, label themselves as 'democratic' and label others as 'populist' or 'extremist'. They have worked together to exclude non-establishment parties from parliamentary business as much as legally possible.

Democracy Under Threat

After the 2016 US election, US political elites blamed democracy and populism for producing unfavorable election outcomes. They saw elections as out of control, producing unexpected winners. These outcomes threatened the deep-rooted structures that protected long-standing US oligarchic interests globally.

By 2023, the New York Times was running essays with headlines like "Elections Are Bad for Democracy". Rod Blagojevich, in the Wall Street Journal, explained that the system had broken down. The revealing of Biden's dementia had exposed the system's flaws.

The Cultural War

2016 marked the beginning of a cultural war. Trump, a complete outsider, had won the Presidency, and populism and 'disinformation' were blamed. By 2017, NATO was describing 'disinformation' as the greatest threat facing western nations.

To combat this threat, the backroom bosses redefined 'democracy' as an alignment of supporting institutions. This approach allowed the government to distance itself from the censorship process, creating plausible deniability of direct government involvement.

Targeting the Billionaires

Currently, the war is aimed at 'unaccountable' billionaires like Pavel Durov and Elon Musk. Musk's survival will be crucial to the course of this aspect of the war. The EU's Digital Service Act was designed to serve as 'Brutus' to Musk's 'Caesar'.

Bottom Line

Throughout history, self-serving and self-enriching elites have often shown contempt for their people, leading to crackdowns. Recent elections in France, Germany, Britain, and the Euro-parliament reveal a deep distrust and dislike of the Establishment. An ecosystem of propaganda does not restore trust; it erodes it.

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