August 8th, 2024

Elon Musk's misleading claims have received 1.2 billion views, says report

Elon Musk's misleading election claims have amassed 1.2 billion views on X, with 50 debunked posts lacking fact-checking labels, raising concerns about the platform's misinformation management and accountability.

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Elon Musk's misleading claims have received 1.2 billion views, says report

Elon Musk's misleading claims regarding the U.S. election have garnered approximately 1.2 billion views on the social media platform X, according to a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate. The analysis identified 50 instances of Musk sharing debunked election-related claims, none of which were accompanied by a "Community Note" to provide corrections or context, raising concerns about the effectiveness of X's fact-checking system. Musk, who has a significant following of 193 million on X, has been accused of amplifying disinformation, particularly regarding allegations that Democrats are "importing voters." Despite independent fact-checks disproving these claims, Musk has continued to promote them, with some posts receiving over 40 million views. The report highlights a lack of accountability for Musk's posts, as they do not appear to be subject to the same scrutiny as those from other users. Additionally, Musk's recent activities have included sharing false information about British politics and immigration, further contributing to the discourse surrounding misinformation on social media. The Center for Countering Digital Hate has previously investigated the spread of extremist content on X and criticized the platform's handling of disinformation. The report calls for greater transparency regarding the rules governing fact-checking on X, questioning whether different standards apply to Musk compared to other users.

- Elon Musk's misleading election claims have reached 1.2 billion views on X.

- None of Musk's 50 debunked posts received fact-checking labels from X's Community Notes.

- Musk has repeatedly promoted false claims about voter importation by Democrats.

- The report raises concerns about the effectiveness of X's misinformation management.

- Calls for transparency regarding fact-checking rules on the platform have been made.

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