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Why Britain's Royal Society Is Considering Throwing Out Elon Musk? Explained

Why Britain's Royal Society Is Considering Throwing Out Elon Musk? Explained

  • 17.03.2025 10:54
  • news18.com
  • Keywords: Royal Society

The Royal Society in Britain is reconsidering Elon Musk's fellowship due to concerns over his public behavior and alleged violations of its code of conduct, particularly his use of X to spread misinformation and inflammatory remarks.

Tesla ProductsTSLAsentiment_dissatisfied

Estimated market influence

SpaceX

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: N/A

Musk's ownership of SpaceX is mentioned but not directly tied to the Royal Society's decision. However, his role as owner may influence public perception.

Tesla

Tesla

Negativesentiment_dissatisfied
Analyst rating: Neutral

Similar to SpaceX, Tesla's connection is through Musk's ownership, with no direct link to the Royal Society's actions.

Context

Analysis of Royal Society Considering Removal of Elon Musk Fellowship

Key Facts and Data Points

  • Royal Society: Founded in 1600, includes notable fellows like Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking.
  • Elon Musk’s Fellowship: Awarded in 2018 for contributions to reusable rockets (SpaceX), electric vehicles (Tesla), and brain-computer interfaces (Neuralink).
  • Open Letter Signatories: Nearly 3,500 scientists signed a letter urging reconsideration of Musk’s fellowship.
  • Misinformation: Significant rise in misinformation on X (formerly Twitter) since Musk’s takeover in 2022.
  • Funding Cuts: As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk oversaw unprecedented cuts to scientific research funding.
  • Royal Society Meeting: Postponed decision on March 3, 2024, but decided to explore further actions against misinformation and attacks on science.

Market Trends and Business Impact

  • Reputation Risk: Musk’s public conduct is damaging his reputation as a scientist and businessman, potentially impacting his companies’ market positioning.
  • Scientific Institutions: The incident highlights growing concerns over the influence of tech leaders on scientific integrity and public trust in institutions.
  • Regulatory Scrutiny: Increased focus on compliance with “Good Laboratory Practice” regulations due to allegations against Neuralink.

Competitive Dynamics

  • Internal Conflict: Divided opinions among Royal Society fellows, with notable figures like Nobel laureate Andre Geim supporting Musk, while others criticize his behavior and impact on scientific discourse.
  • Strategic Considerations: The decision could influence how other scientific bodies handle conflicts between innovation and public accountability.

Long-Term Effects

  • Diplomatic Implications: Potential strain on US-UK relations, as the Royal Society’s decision is seen as a political gesture.
  • Ethical AI Practices: Could lead to stricter guidelines for tech leaders in promoting ethical AI development and dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Regulatory Impacts

  • Public Trust: The situation underscores the importance of maintaining public trust in scientific institutions and the potential regulatory consequences of mismanaging such trust.