As the November 2024 US election approaches, Elon Musk's prolific activity on social media has drawn significant scrutiny. On August 13, 2024, Musk tweeted over 145 times to his 195 million followers, engaging with far-right politicians and amplifying election conspiracies. His first tweet of the day came at 12:14 AM MST, in response to conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. By 1 AM, Musk had already tweeted 14 times, including interactions with controversial figures like Jordan Peterson. Throughout the day, he criticized media coverage of his interview with Donald Trump, labeling journalists as 'NPCs' (non-playable characters) and echoing right-wing narratives by demanding the use of paper ballots in elections. [3c2094bc]
Musk's political engagement extended to interactions with international figures such as former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss and Italian politician Matteo Salvini. He also expressed concerns about censorship in Brazil, tweeting about the issue at 6:17 PM. His prolific tweeting culminated in a celebration of a new AI image generator just before midnight. [3c2094bc]
However, Musk's influence has raised alarms as critics label him a 'misinformation megaphone.' His endorsement of Donald Trump and the spread of misleading claims about Democrats and immigrants have been particularly concerning. Following a second assassination attempt on Trump, Musk posted controversial comments and shared a deepfake video involving President Biden and Vice President Harris, which were widely criticized. Since January, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has identified 50 debunked posts from Musk, which have collectively garnered nearly 1.2 billion views. [a03bf758]
Musk's approach to X (formerly Twitter) has drawn comparisons to Trump's influence during the 2016 election cycle. Since Musk's $44 billion acquisition of X in 2022, the platform's trust and safety teams have been significantly reduced, raising concerns about the spread of misinformation. In response to these issues, five US states have urged Musk to address misinformation propagated by X's AI chatbot, while Brazil has suspended the platform over similar concerns. Additionally, EU regulators are investigating X's disinformation policies. [a03bf758]
As Musk continues to wield significant influence over public opinion, the intersection of his social media presence and political engagement remains a contentious topic in the landscape of American politics. His reputation is reportedly declining amid ongoing criticism of his tactics, prompting calls for accountability and regulatory intervention. [a03bf758]