UK Royal Society debates expelling Elon Musk from fellowship
Britain’s Royal Society will hold a crucial meeting on Monday following calls to expel technology billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, from the prestigious scientific institute.
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society describes itself as a “fellowship of many of the world’s most eminent scientists” and is a key voice in the global scientific community.
Past members have included Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Dorothy Hodgkin, Benjamin Franklin, and Stephen Hawking.
However, after members raised concerns about X owner Musk, who was elected a fellow in 2018, the organisation announced it would discuss “the principles around public pronouncements and behaviours of fellows.”
Nobel Prize winners were among more than 3,000 people who signed an open letter last month, arguing that Musk had violated the Society’s code of conduct by promoting “unfounded conspiracy theories.”
Researchers claim that changes Musk made to X after his 2022 takeover of the platform, formerly known as Twitter, have led to a surge in misinformation.
The 53-year-old has also repeatedly used his account to spread falsehoods, including inaccurate claims about COVID-19, vaccines, miscarriages, and heart problems.
“This is not about policing political views or enforcing some kind of political conformity,” said Stephen Curry, professor of structural biology at Imperial College London and author of the open letter.
“The main concern for many is that Elon Musk has not shown respect for evidence.
“He is widely reported to be one of the most active disseminators of misinformation on Twitter, which is inconsistent with the Society’s code of conduct.”
The Society, which has 1,800 fellows and foreign members, including 85 Nobel laureates, states that it aims to promote the use of science “for the benefit of humanity and the good of the planet.”
Its website highlights Musk’s contributions to space travel and electric vehicles through his companies, SpaceX and Tesla.
Monday’s meeting comes as Musk’s influence in the White House grows due to his role as an advisor to US President Donald Trump.
“This discussion takes place at a time when science and scientific integrity are under attack in the US and elsewhere,” Curry wrote on X rival BlueSky on Monday.
“I hope today the Fellows will have the wisdom and courage to show that the Royal Society can publicly defend its values.”
The meeting, open to all members, is scheduled to take place in the evening behind closed doors. However, it remains unclear what action the Society might take.
In a statement to AFP, the Society said, “Any issues raised in respect of individual fellows are dealt with in strict confidence.”
AFP
